Welcome to my "Open Window"...a place of hope, encouragement, and adventure as we journey down the road from "Closed Doors" to the new opportunities God places in our pathway. I hope you will take the time to go back and follow the trail of mixed blessings and fears, failures and triumphs from the past and side-trips in the present. Perhaps it will conjure up some of your own special memories, and be an invitation for you to share with others. I look forward to spending this time with you!
What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Random Acts of Being a Good Neighbor
With all the crazy stuff going on out there in the world, I thought you might like to hear about a thoughtful "random act of being a good neighbor".
Nothing huge...just sweet.
I was coming back into our back yard after a quick morning walk. It was starting to sprinkle rain, so I was in a bit of a hurry. But as I entered our gate, I thought I saw a dragonfly land on something on top of one of our fence-posts that divides our property from our neighbor.
I couldn't quite figure out why the dragonfly was landing on something higher than the top of the post. That didn't make sense.
So as I walked a little closer, the dragonfly flew away, but then I saw what it was he had been standing upon:
This little bear, just standing there with his paws behind his back, looking like he had a little secret.
So I turned him around and saw that he had a little fish in his paw, and thought..."well, isn't that something! I wonder where he came from? I've never seen him here before..."
He just stood there, looking so innocent and nonchalant, as if to say,
"Ha Ha...I've got a secret, and I won't tell, I won't tell, I won't tell..."
I was flabbergasted! Where did he come from? How long had he been there?
Did one of our neighborhood bears leave him there as a little reminder that they are always nearby, even when we don't know it?
So, of course, I took his picture...and then I left him there on the post until I could solve the mystery.
Later that day our neighbor came outside as I was going out to get the mail.
He said hello to me...and I asked him, "Did you leave this cute little bear sitting here on our fence post?" He said, "Yes, I wondered how long it would take for you to find him. He's been there for about a week!" Me, dumbfounded, said, "I guess I just haven't been very observant lately with so much on my mind."
He said, "well, I found him in a box of stuff I got at the flea market, and knew that you loved bears so thought you'd like to have him."
Of course I'd like to have him. What a sweet, thoughtful gesture.
As I said, nothing big...just a little kindness from a nice neighbor.
He's kind of a big bear of a guy himself...kind of a loner, but very kind and thoughtful. This isn't the first "random act of being a good neighbor" he had done for us.
People like this make it more difficult to move.
I pray God will send just the right kind of neighbor here for our neighbor to appreciate and vice versa.
And may we always be that kind of neighbor to others as well.
Just little random acts of kindness...whether they be neighbors next door or across the street or across the highway, or in the next county...at the grocery store, the gas station,
wherever we meet people,
May we always strive to be a "good neighbor" who spreads kindness and good will.
Here is a good story about being a good neighbor:
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
So now, this little bear has joined some new friends here in our house. He seems right at home here.
Hey! " Won't you be, won't you be, please won't you be, my neighbor?" (Mr. Rogers)
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How fun that you will have that sweet reminder to take with you to your new home!! Good neighbors are such a blessing!
ReplyDeleteyes they are. I hope we will find such sweet neighbors wherever we end up!
DeleteI don't know how you were so quick and able to take the photo of the cardinal. I rarely take a good photo of a bird, they move so fast. And your new bear is the cutest, a nice surprise from your neighbor. Yes, Jesus encourages us to be good neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of Cardinals here, and often they fly away just as I am clicking the camera, but once in a while I get lucky! Yes, I was so pleasantly surprised to find this little bear on the fence. We've been blessed to have some very good neighbors.
DeleteLove the Cardinal at the end!
ReplyDeleteI just finished screaming about the bear whistle in the earlier post. Now I have to start again! ;-) deep breath...
Ha Ha Ha, Sandi. I hear you screaming all the way from wherever in the world you are! LOL. But this is just a sweet little bear. A friendly reminder of our bear friends here in the woods, and a big bear of a neighbor. God is good.
DeleteI'm partial to black bears myself. I keep hoping to see some at Cades Cove but haven't yet. The bear your neighbor left is so cute! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet, sweet gesture, Pamela! Yes, may we all show kindness to our neighbors whenever we can. The bear is a keeper!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Awe, what a great story of kindness from a neighbor. It truly is a blessing to receive kindness from another and more sweet to give kindness to others. Love the pictures. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story!!!
ReplyDeletePam, What a sweet random act of kindness from your neighbor. Those random acts of kindness are a blessing--both to give and to receive.
ReplyDeleteThe bear is super cute!
Blessings!