Love Dare Day #4

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.There is no commandment greater than these."Mark 12:30-31

In this fast paced world we are not as attentive as what people used to be. Even when I was a child, each time we moved into a new home (9 times!) we always knew our neighbors. Not because we knew them before we moved in, but because there was an effort on each families part to interact and get to know one another. In some instances the neighbor would welcome us with a covered dish of some kind others would just come over and introduce themselves when we were outside. In each place I remember friendships were formed. If someone's car was broke down and they needed a ride they would go to their neighbor for help. If they began to cook dinner and halfway through the preparation realized they needed a cup of sugar, or milk, or an egg, they did not stop what they were doing, load the kids, jump in the car, drive to the store, and get what they needed. They would simply call on their neighbors for help. If they needed a sitter or a shoulder to cry on or help with a yard sale, their neighbor was there. Neighborly love.

In addition to refraining from negative words today, show a little neighborly love. If you have never met or spoken to one of your neighbors- take the first step. Love you neighbor as you love yourself. Smile at the people you come in contact with, even if you are in a hurry and your frustrated. Be courteous to those around you. If you see someone in need and you can help- do it! When we were children, we were taught to not speak to strangers. We are no longer children. We have been commanded to love others-all others--as we love ourselves. Think about all the ways we love ourselves and transfer that same love to others. (If it helps, make a list of the ways we love ourselves)