It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

...Hi, neighbor!

In case I haven't mentioned previously, I work for K & M Winslow. They're a small accounting company that just so happens to also manage the property and condos where I live (that's actually partly how I got my job--an awesome story I'll probably post eventually). Anyway, while I was at work today we got a call from the daughter of two other tenants from my building. Her elderly mom fell down and hit her head on New Year's Eve, landing her a stay in the emergency room. The mother finally made it home yesterday or today, but the daughter is staying here until her mom (who also takes care of her husband) is back on her feet. Okay, so..who cares?

Turns out, I do. Being the daughter of a mom diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and several other auto-immune diseases, I could automatically relate to this woman. I know what it's like to have to take care of a parent. A few nights ago my own mom fell down and wound up with a trip to the emergency room and a few stitches for a souvenir, so I also know how hard it is to be half a country away when one of your parents is hurt or ill. It's really hard to rely on other people to look after them. So...after I got home I took a sticky note with my contact information along with three roses from a bouquet Justin brought home this weekend and marched upstairs to their unit. I introduced myself to all three of them, shared my flowers, and visited with them briefly. I told them if there was anything I could do to help--getting groceries, picking up prescriptions, driving them to appointments--that I would love to help. And I meant it. More than anything I wanted their daughter to have peace of mind knowing that when she returned home to Florida, there was someone here who was willing and eager to help her family.

Even though introducing myself to these perfect strangers was a little out of my comfort zone, it was also very easy for my because I could relate to their situation. I HAVE walked a mile in those shoes. Not to mention the Bible says that we are to love each other just as Christ has loved us (John 13:34). But this command does not limit our love to "only those we can relate to or sympathize with". Actually, Matthew 5:43 says quite the opposite: "You have heard the law says, 'love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" And just in case anyone thinks they can get out of that one on a technicality, the Bible also says, "don't just pretend that you love others, really love them." (Romans 12:9)

Ouch. Those verses really made me ask myself if I am loving others the way God wants me to love others. If I'm going to be honest about it, the answer is no. I can't just pick and choose who to love. So I'm working on loving others they way God loves us...even the dog lady that yelled at me for building a snowman in the courtyard. But if it were easy to love everyone, God wouldn't need to remind us to do so! 

To hear the powerful story of one family who chose to share God's love with a stranger, watch Samuel's story here: