Eyes and Hands

Daily writing prompt

What makes a good neighbor?

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I’d like to think I have good neighbors and I hope I’ve been a good one . Over the years, I’ve certainly tried. We don’t always break bread or see each other often, but when it matters we show up for each other. ‘No man is an island’ is not just an old adage – it’s the real deal.

Life happens. Misplaced packages, mails, and deliveries. Garbage bins with wings and forgotten opened garage doors. Unwelcomed visitors slithering across your driveway to coil up comfortably at your front door. Deflated bicycle and car tires. Busted pipes and heavy lifting. At some point in time, my neighbors have been there for me for everyone of these events. Beyond our kindness and thoughtfulness- we respect boundaries and mind our business. In short, it’s the guys or gals you miss when one of us moves.

I think good neighbors are our eyes, ears, and hands when our humanity renders us limited and powerless. Like those amazing neighbors above who showed up for me as Hurricane Milton threatened our area. We don’t even need to be the definition of ‘friends’; we just need to be willing to ‘do unto others, as you would have them do unto you’. And while we are at it, smile some- it never hurts.

As an added note: “Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.” (Proverbs 25:17 NLT)