is your neighborhood better because you live there?

a good friend of ours often talks about how our neighborhoods and communities should be better places because we live there.

would they be sad if we left?

the other day i experienced a little bit of what this could look like. it had snowed a few inches, so as i started shoveling, i decided to go ahead and shovel out the neighbors on either side of our house. on one side is a fun family with several kids that we know would be there for us if we ever needed anything. they've already proven that. so it was nice just to surprise them with something nice back and secretly hope they would like us for it (i know awful motivation). on the other side of us is an elderly couple. they are characters and a lot of fun to talk to. i decided to shovel their steps and sidewalk because i figured they could use the help. a few minutes after matt came out and joined in, barney, our elderly neighbor caught us shoveling his steps and came out on his porch. he brought salt to start salting, and as we worked he commented "it's nice to have neighbors like this".

such a small comment, but huge implications i think.

i don't say any of this as kudos to me--i'm the same person who just a few weeks ago sat on my butt in my nice warm living room while matt was out in freezing temps and biting wind changing a flat tire for sally, our neighbor across the street. i definitely have my moments of selfishness.

but when we take the time to do things to love our neighbors, we show them a little bit of jesus and bring a little bit of god's kingdom to our communities.

i wonder if barney would miss us if we moved?