Love Your Neighbour

 
Well the Christmas Season has come and gone and our little family has finally returned home. The home we left in late fall surrounded by leaves of gold and red is now blanketed (rather thickly) with snow. I have missed this home and I am so grateful to return. Our time away was good, much better than I could have hoped for. Our return so sweet.

Merely hours after returning our neighbours greeted us. The next morning arriving with a dozen fresh baked buns and another of delicious homemade cinnamon buns. While I don't know the exact age of our neighbours I would suspect them both to be in their eighties. Both are masters of their own art form. Her a skilled quilter that puts any of my amateur work to shame. Him an accomplished wood carver, turning what is raw and misshapen into intricate works of art. They are generous people. People who graciously lend to us tools, baking supplies, even manpower and skill. Just over a year ago he helped Tim dig window wells and landscape our backyard. She, on more than one occasion has picked up thoughtful gifts. A unique pin cushion from a quilt show....material she knew to match the quilt I was working on....tools she knew would make my project easier. We are blessed.

Jake and I try to make it over for a visit when we can. She gives him cookies, he laughs as Jake crawls over him. They both let him have the run of the house. During our first visit of the new year I mentioned that I was having a hard time finding a rabbit ornament for Jake's Christmas present. Yes, I know, Christmas is past but a little boy won't know when his mom tracks down the perfect ornament for his second Christmas just as long as it is ready for the tree next year. Jake's beloved stuffed animal "Peter Rabbit" has been hard to find in ornament form. Within minutes of my request, our neighbour, the one who professes to not give away any of his carvings presented us with a mini "Peter" so perfect. The rabbit was quickly adorned with an ornament hook and signed by the artist. My search concluded. The perfect ornament was found. Yet again blessed by the people next door.

As I reflect on the generosity of these neighbours I am challenged. I feel loved by them undoubtedly. I feel cared for by the other neighbours on our block who have welcomed us home. For the ones that walked down the block when they saw us outside and invited us to a games night this week. I feel loved by these people who would ultimately be strangers did they not live on the same street. Do they, and the others that live in the houses along our street feel loved by us? Do the lonely ones? The angry ones? The worrying and anxious ones? The ones with new babies or difficult teenagers? Do they feel loved by us? Do we see unshoveled driveways and long grass as annoyances, products of laziness or opportunities? As I enjoy yet another cinnamon bun and look forward to a play date with the family across the way and a games night with the couple down the lane I am grateful for my neighbours I know and love and challenged to love those I am yet to know.