I live in a very urban city. It is full of people that unfortunately don’t place the limitations of their volume when they are in front of their house or inside their house for that matter. I have some neighbors that believe the funnier the joke the louder they should laugh. They tend to believe that the louder they play their song the louder they should sing over top of the song. Not only should they stand outside the house talking on the phone but they should have it blaring on speaker so the whole neighborhood should hear the conversation and be able to join in o t like the other people sitting on the porch with them. I’m sorry but when you become a mother you begin to see things in a whole different light and I was DONE with the whole "love your neighbors" teaching. When I brought my baby home from the hospital all I wanted to do was protect him. He came home in the winter time so I spent time swaddling him, making sure I had humidifiers going and watching out for the volume of everyone in the house, even hubby who would end up wearing earphones some nights to keep from hearing me being huffy about his choice of shows and the volume of it (sorry husband). Well I thought I had finally gotten my son on a schedule and then the summer came. Well needless to say, the noise began and my attitude did too! I couldn’t understand why people were so rude and loud and unnecessary! I soon realized that people have to live there life outside of the doors of my house and I can only control what happens inside of my house and maintain a presence of Christ at home and when I walk outside those doors. The most powerful weapons I have are prayer and presence.
Smile and Remember to
Say “Hi!”
It only takes a smile and a simple greeting of Hi, Good
Morning or Goodnight to show someone love.
How many times have you had a bad day coming home and a simple “Hi! How you doing today?” from someone helped to change
your attitude. At times I have left out
of the house after a long sleepless night to one of my neighbors and saying “Good
Morning!” completely changed my attitude.
Regardless of what kind of neighbors you believe you have everyone wants
to be acknowledged that they are seen and that they matter. A smile and greeting does this ever time.
Respect Your Property
and Space
As I said earlier, that old saying about a man and his
castle, and a woman and her house, I believe that everyone wants and deserves
to have their personal space respected.
The best way to make sure you have your neighbors respect your home is
to respect theirs. How? No standing in front of their house talking
too loudly, throwing trash on the ground, leaning on their house or car and definitely
not gossiping about them. Other may forget this last point but there is a
respect for their personal space. Everyone doesn’t want to be stopped at their
door or car to hold a conversation. Look for the signals people. When people
are moving fast out the door, talking on their cell phone or say “Ok. I have to
run.” and your still talking… you are not respecting their personal space.
Look Out for You and
Your Family and Intercede On Your Behalf If Need Be
Well one of my pet peeves is allowing a dog to use the
bathroom on the lawn. Everyone goes food
shopping so everyone can spare a plastic bag to pick up the poop. If I see someone walking a dog on my street,
without their trusty plastic bag, I kindly offer to get them one. It shouldn’t matter
to me that the person has walked pass my front lawn if they are in my
neighborhood I should want to cover them with being their eyes and ears when
they aren’t around. Suspicious activity
around their home or information that has been posted in local media that may need
to be shared is important to share as well.
Provide for You if It
Is In My Power to Give
I Promise to Pray for
You and Ask you to do the Same
Love You Like Christ
Loves Me
