Our Neighbors

I am linking up for Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Neighbor.” This community is such a gift to me. I love what Anita said last week at our FMF Twitter, “Your social media friends go with you wherever you go.” We’d love to have you join us on Thursday nights for our Twitter party.

Hurricane Harvey came in as a force to be reckoned with. So many homes lost. So many waiting to be rescued. Others helping one another. In the midst of this awfulness, some beauty came forth. Neighbors helping neighbors.

Before this storm, it seemed the world was constantly divided. Yet now, we seem to have found ways to help each other: to love one another. I’m reminded of this verse from Scripture “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

I realize we might not always agree with one another. But the truth is, I believe, that God calls us to love one another. Love your Muslim neighbors. Love your LGTBQ+ neighbors. Love all your neighbors. Love ultimately wins when we honestly share God’s love with one another.

Throughout my life, my neighbors have been a blessing to me; bringing me food, remembering my birthday (which by the way is Sunday) and being an incredible example of what it means to love ones neighbors as we love ourselves.

I want to be the best neighbor I can be. I want to show up when it matters. So friends, in the words of Mr. Rogers, won’t you be my neighbor?

32 thoughts on “Our Neighbors

  1. Tara, your heart is so big and inspiring! Happy birthday! Hope you are celebrating with some of your favorite neighbors or friends, etc. P.S. in high school, my best friend did a research paper on Mr. Rogers and he sent her an autographed photo.

  2. Yes Tara, we are always to love, not always to agree. God will sort the wheat from the tares. His business, not mine. Blessing always runs parallel with tragedy. We have to seek the beautiful in the ugly and magnify it. Happy Birthday! #48 this week.

    • Exactly! God will indeed sort the wheat from the tares. I know that all too well as a farmers daughter, granddaughter and niece. Thanks also for the birthday greetings. It was a great day!

  3. It is encouraging that there is good to be found even in the midst of awful events like Hurricane Harvey as so often these times are when people do pull together as neighbours and show love and kindness. I agree, it is so important to love those who are different from us. Hope you have a lovely birthday!

  4. I love your post, Tara. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes disaster to remind us that we are all neighbours to one another. We have to be more intentional about remembering that during the more ordinary days.

    • Thanks Julie! We were indeed thinking and writing in one direction. Love truly does win. I believe that with all of my heart especially when it is God’s love. Hope you had a blessed weekend. Mine was great!

  5. I adore you – and of course, we went in the same direction with this prompt! Praying as you settle in and get to know your new neighbors in this season! (And Happy Birthday tomorrow, sweet friend!)

    • Well….I adore you too friend! Thanks for the prayers. They are so greatly appreciated. And thank you also for the birthday greetings! It was such a great day spent with my sister. Only thing that would have made it even better is if that sweet Evelyn Rose would have been born on that day too! 😛

  6. As hard as Harvey has been and still is, I am grateful for the good that it has brought out in so many.
    Happy Birthday neighbor!
    Blessings,

    Kelly (ps thanks for visiting!)

  7. Lovely post, Tara. Sorry I’m late to the party and to wishing you a very happy, belated birthday! I agree, God tells us to love our neighbors, and that may include those who are very different from us. Great post

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