Finding opportunities to get to know our neighbors seems to be a constant challenge in our busy culture. Being a living witness to our neighbors can be difficult when we’re all preoccupied with living life. That’s why I found this article, 10 Ways to Love Your Neighbor, by Ed Stetzer encouraging and the list within helpful. I’ve summarized below some of these simple ideas you and I can start using today to love our neighbors.
10 Ways to Love Your Neighbor:
- Invite one neighbor over for dinner each month.
- If someone is new in town, invite them to join your plans for the weekend.
- Organize a walking group or running club.
- When someone tells you they have an upcoming job interview, a test, or a doctor appointment, mark it on your calendar. Follow up on the big day with a note of encouragement to let them know you are praying for them, or ask them how it went afterward. Better yet, do both!
- If you see someone moving in, bring them dinner, cookies, or basic supplies they might need…
- Ask your neighbor to be their friend on Facebook. This is a great way to find common ground and things to talk about the next time you see them.
- Practice random acts of kindness. Take your neighbor’s trash out, or put their trash can away after pick-up. Mow their lawn “just because.”
- Use your kids as an ice breaker. Invite a fellow mom and her kids over for a play date and get to know her…
- Get outside the walls of your house. You’ll meet neighbors as you walk the dog, take walks, work in your yard, or hang out at your neighborhood pool. Don’t just wave; be intentional…
- Organize a neighborhood get-together so that your neighbors can meet each other…
Photo by: Bjørn Giesenbauer cc