Neighbors

Today was one of those days.

Everything started out alright until the usual sibling squabbling. After Matthew tackled Ben for the umteenth time, he was sent to his room for time-out. Normally this wouldn't be such a big deal, but when he came out and turned on his favorite tv show, he realized he missed the opening theme song. Tears, kicking, and screaming ensued. I tried to reason with him that he missed it because he got a time-out for tackling his brother, but as most parents know, there's not much reasoning with a three-year-old.

Due to his tantrum, he missed his bus. After he calmed down and we were all dressed, we got into the car only to find that it wouldn't start. Ahh, that's because Matt played "driver" while I was cleaning out the car yesterday... After turning off all of the lights he had turned on, I borrowed a neighbor's vehicle to take Matt to school.

I returned my neighbor's van and had been home for about half an hour when I slammed Ben's pinkie finger in the door leading out to the garage. It was awful. Back we were at our neighbor's house asking to use her van. She offered to drive us to the doctor's office after loading up her three-month old and three-year old. The nurse at the doctor's office advised me to go right up to the ER, so our neighbor graciously drove us up there.

Meanwhile, Matt was due to come home from school on the bus. My husband was on his way home, but he wasn't going to make it to meet the bus, so I called another one of my neighbors. She picked Matt up and kept him at her house until his father arrived.

Ben's finger was not broken, just badly bruised, and for that we are very fortunate. This incident also reminded me of how fortunate we are to live in a neighborhood where we actually know our neighbors, consider them friends, and do not hesitate calling on them for help. Many people do not associate with their neighbors or even know their names. They wish to live independent, separate lives and go about their business unbothered. We all desire independence to some extent, but humans were not created to live alone, being isolated from one another. We are social creatures. Asking for help also places one in a humbling position. I believe that by humbling ourselves before others opens the door for others to ask us for help in their times of need.

I am thankful for my neighbors and feel extremely blessed by them.

Blessings,
Katie

"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality."
2 Corinthians 8:13,14

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18