Looking back over the years I can think of only one neighbour we found impossible to get along with. Any recollections of that person are greatly outnumbered by the wonderful neighbourhood friendships we’ve enjoyed over the years, however. Here are a couple of recent examples.
This week, what started out as our customary Monday evening family supper ended up including a frantic search for our granddaughter’s puppy who had managed to get out of the gated back porch. Between searches on foot, by car and by a Facebook posting or two, said doggie was located just a couple of houses down the street and was returned by a neighbour. Many thanks to all who helped us bring a happy ending to an otherwise tension-filled situation. A couple of days later another neighbour and a friend took me out for a belated birthday lunch.
In fact, few days pass without demonstrations of kindnesses, helpfulness and the joys of watching children playing across a number of “neighbourly” lawns. Thanks to these special friends our days have been seasoned with pleasure.
The matter of having and, more importantly of being, a good neighbour is specifically addressed eight times by the writer of Proverbs. Here’s a quick summary of those exhortations: don’t break trust that’s been created between you and a neighbour (3:29); bite your tongue instead of starting a quarrel (11:12); don’t dare to look down on a neighbour who is not as financially well off as you are but rather help them (14:20-21); don’t lie to or about a neighbour and don’t be guilty of slandering them (24:28, 29 and 25:8-10); and don’t be stupid enough to lie to and then attempt to joke your way out of the situation (26:18,19).
Is friendship with every neighbour easily achieved? No, but with God’s help we can demonstrate His love.
