When is the last time you neighbored, intentionally reached out to someone in your neighborhood? Two days after we had moved into our house on Dogwood our sweet neighbor Clarence brought over some homemade coffee cake. I cannot even begin to explain how grateful and special his action made us feel. This past week I caught the tail end of a Focus on the Family where the guest was talking about neighboring and how to start to live life with your neighbors rather than by your neighbors.
The first step, just know their names and let them know yours. I can honestly say I've been feeling the need to get to know my neighbors better these past several months. In December I made peppermint bark for several of my neighbors (all but one of whom I had some type of relationship with already). The one neighbor I do not know is directly across the street. We wave when we pass each other, but that is the extent of our relationship. In an effort to reach out I added him to our peppermint bark list. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get him at the door and had to leave the bark on the plate for him to find with our Christmas card on it.
Several houses have been put on the market in our neighborhood recently and many of them on our street. So in an attempt to continue reaching out I made some sprinkle covered sugar cookies and walked them down the street to the couple that just moved in last week. A small conversation was had and a few bits and pieces of information exchanged, BUT they have our phone numbers and he gave us theirs. Who knows were this contact will lead, but if anything just reaching out is a good place to start.
So I challenge you, whether you are new to your neighborhood or have been there for twenty years, reach out to a neighbor you don't already know, maybe even the one with the barking dog that you can't stand! You never know what lies behind those closed doors and what type of joy a simple act can bring. Bake some cookies. Mow their front yard. Write them a note introducing yourself. Just reach out!
