Loving on our neighbors

Since we moved to Charleston, my husband and I have made it a goal to love on our neighbors well.

Why, you ask? Well, first it's because we believe it's something God has asked us to do. I think God places different people in our lives and asks us to love them for a season. That could mean coworkers or family or a certain type of person you have a heart for (like teen moms), etc. For us, right now, it's our neighbors. We also want to be a positive presence in our neighborhood. Not so that we get some credit for being awesome people or anything (hey, it could still happen), but because we recognize we're in a position to bless and influence our neighbors and we want to do that- because it's so good and feels so good! I would also add that we simply just want to get to know who our neighbors are. I've lived in many homes where I never said a word to any of the several people who lived within 100 feet of us. And then we would move and realize we never met our neighbors and it just felt sad and not right. Like we missed an opportunity to make a friend or borrow sugar or care for someone. Who better to do that for/with than someone who lives next door?!

And let me tell you, since we've been getting to know all these new neighbors in Charleston, it's been so much fun! We literally have friends all around us now- which is awesome especially because we don't have many friends any where else in the city.

Here's what we've done so far to love our neighbors:

When we first moved in we brought cookies around to everyone just to say we're new and wanted to meet you! I'll say that I think this could work just fine even if you're not new to a neighborhood. Something like "We've never met and I'd love to get to know you!" could work too :)

Then there's been the occasional invite over or out to dinner, or to a wreath making party, or a bonfire- whatever's happening that might be nice to invite someone to... or make up something so that there's an excuse to invite someone over (Ben's even mentioned throwing a block party!)

Then at Christmas time we brought around a little gift. You guessed it... more cookies! (On one occasion we were referred to as "The bakers." ha!)

We've had a couple neighbors have babies too since we moved so we made them little gifts, brought them over, met the baby and spent some time together. 

These are some of the things we've practically done, but there are no rules when it comes to getting to know your neighbors (or anybody) and loving them well! It's really all about looking out for their needs or little ways they might be blessed... and doing it with a heart that says "I just want to show you kindness without expecting anything in return."
Also, it doesn't have to be so much about "dishing out" for others. Like I said, these people are our friends now. We really do love spending time with them and eating food together and waving hi as we drive past. It's rewarding in and of itself simply because making other people important isn't something that happens too often in our world. And I don't know about you, but I want to be one of the ones going out of my way to share a smile and make a friend.

So who are those people for you? Are there ways you can be more intentional about blessing or loving somebody? What are the ways you are going to make someone else important in your life?