Welcome my friend, come on in & have a little break from your busy day over a cuppa. Today we’re chatting about neighbours…
We all have them…right? Whether they’re near or far they live right next door.
And neighbours can be many things; friendly & considerate, aloof & inconsiderate, quiet or noisy, maybe a little too friendly or may be even hostile depending on the relationship between the neighbours.
But before we get chatting let’s grab our cuppa’s & get comfy.
I have a mug of tea & a slice of Mulberry & coconut loaf, do you have yours? Then lets begin…
Neighbours of all kinds
Hubby & I have lived in this neighbourhood for the past nineteen years & over that time we have seen neighbours come & go.
We’ve had a range of neighbourhood characters over that time.
You see hubby & I were raised in a time when you considered & respected others, especially your neighbours. We were taught what Jesus said;
‘…You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
Matthew 22: 39
We grew up in neighbourhoods where neighbours helped each other out when needed, sharing home grown veggies & chats over the fence, often becoming long term friends.
We were taught that you’re respectful of boundaries, privacy, noise levels & consider how your lifestyle may impact those living around you.
In fact my husband is an extremely considerate man, he would be described as a wonderful neighbour who is quiet, respectful & helpful.
He often goes the hundredth mile for those living around us & has been known to mow neighbour’s verges for them when they’re away.
A disrespect has crept in…
However, what we’ve noticed is this consideration isn’t always reciprocated.
I personally find this disappointing & frustrating at times, especially when noise levels & privacy are disrespected.
Don’t get me wrong here, we understand that there are times when children play loudly, that there will be birthday parties & BBQ’s that are all a part of family life, as we had young families once, that’s not a problem.
We also understand that if someone is building something then the related noise will happen over a period of time until it’s completed, not a worry.
The Appropriate Authority
I must admit thoughts of righting the injustice of this disrespect do come to mind by going to the appropriate Authorities.
But I have a higher Authority that I am accountable to & what He would have me do in this situation is my only desire.
Let’s look at that scripture again, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Hmmm…
When I take a good look I don’t see any added qualifier attached to that verse saying; love your neighbours as yourself, but not the annoying & disrespectful ones.
No, it just isn’t there!
So where does that leave us?
Loving our neighbours with God’s love, strength & wisdom…not our own!
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or
In Prayer
© 2023 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photo by David McBee on Pexels.com
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So very true! I’ve been convicted lately to reach out to the neighbors I don’t really know. I guess I need to quit making lack of time excuses and start meeting them!
Thank you, yes we can have a tendency to put things off…Can’t we?
Definitely!
Hi jennifer, this post reminds me of a past experience I had with a terrible neighbor. Matthew 22:39 says we should love our neighbor as ourselves but when they are disrespectful it’s seemingly impossible. Overtime it gets better, just ignore them and keep praying!
It definitely needs continual prayer & God’s wisdom. Lovely having you drop by today 🙂
What a kind husband you have! You make a good point here – God wants us to love the easy and the hard. Hopefully, your kindness will plant good seeds in their hearts!
I do have a kind husband Maryleigh. 💝
It’s often while loving those hard-to-love neighbors that brings us the most growth! But it’s not easy. Thank God for grace!
Oh I agree Lisa on both counts!
What a wonderful tribute to your husband to say he goes the hundredth mile!
Thank you Lauren, he deserves it as he is such a caring & loving man that never seeks appreciation in what he does for others 🙂
Stopping by for a cuppa. You know you are so right. It’s been something that has recently been in my prayers, loving my neighbors. And how do I love the ones I don’t know. I’m pretty much in a quiet neighborhood now with several quiet elderly neighbors. Oh I miss talking over the fence with neighbors that did become friends.
Your neighbor at G&T
Yes, I think it’s a dying thing chatting to neighbours over the fence Paula. Everone is so busy in their own lives today, we have somewhat lost that sense of neighbourhood comunity in may places now.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful post with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
It’s a pleasure Paula! 🙂
That is so right. We have no choice but to love our enemies. I have reconciled, with
those who hurt me even when l was not at fault. It is most freeing. Bless you.
That’s a good point Heather, the freedom that comes with God’s love & forgiveness is freedom indeed! Bless you too. 🙂
I’m grateful for good neighbors. They’ve been kind and supportive, we reach out to each other and we’re available. No one is camped on anyone’s doorstep, but there is a sense of community that’s safe and warm. I’m grateful. I’ve experienced the opposite. But this is a good season …
That’s truly wonderful to hear Linda, what a lovely blessing! 🙂
Jennifer, as always I love reading your posts. Times have definitely changed. I grew up on a street where the neighbors were ideal. All of them were about the same age as my parents. All of us children played together and our parents were all friends. It was a perfect situation if there could be one. We have lived in the country for 44 years with few neighbors, but those we have are wonderful! Have a blessed weekend, sweet friend!
Thank you sweet friend, it’s sounds as though you live in a very blessed area with lovely neighbours.
Yes, my childhood experience was similar to your’s in the neighbourhoods we lived in as a family.
You have a blessed weekend too Pam. ❤️
You make such a great point about loving our neighbors, even the disrespectful ones, Jennifer. We’re very fortunate to have (mostly) kind and considerate neighbors. The ‘neighborhood’ I have trouble with is on the roads….The drivers here are absolutely awful. I’m always telling my husband I know I’m falling short on the command to love our neighbors because I find it extremely challenging to do that when we’re out driving around…. Thanks for the reminder, my friend.
You’re most welcome, it isn’t easy to love others when we see such disrespect, is it Terri? I think the injustice of those not being considerate to others gets to us all…But Christ’s love changes situations like nothing else can 😊