People in the Atlantic community never cease to remind me of the goodness in our world. Over the past five weeks while my mom has been recuperating from a traumatic car accident, friends have showered us with flowers, gas cards, meals, get-well and encouragement cards, and much more. It’s humbling and encouraging beyond words.
It reminds me again of why it’s a gift to live in the Atlantic community. As I’ve written before, people stay here because of family, friends, and neighbors.
Good friends are rare. I have a pretty rigid definition of a friend. She’s someone you can call at 6:30 in the morning and ask to her watch your kids until you get home from the hospital. She’s the one who will take your shifts as pie chairman during Fair Week. She’ll bring you a meal when you’re sick or pick up your kid from school when he’s sick. He’s someone who’ll mow your lawn when your wife’s hospitalized. He’s the one who will plow your driveway on the darkest, coldest night of the year. And she’s the one who’ll bring a raspberry pretzel salad when your mom’s in the hospital.
Sometimes friends and neighbors can be better to us than family. King Solomon agreed. Proverbs 27:10 reads, “Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.” (NIV)
So we’re wise to make sure we’re friendly with our neighbors, because there are times when they’re there for us and our family isn’t.
Mow your lawn, keep your dog in your yard, put your garbage in toters, keep your parties quiet, and you’ll generally have good relationships with your neighbors. Family, on the other hand, is far more complicated, wouldn’t you agree?
It’s tough maintaining great relationships with people who know your worst qualities and can rattle off your mistakes as soon as you fail. Your neighbors won’t do that, which is probably why they’re better to you in a crisis than family.
Solomon knew this. Of course, Solomon had a couple evil brothers to reference in his mind when he wrote this proverb, I’m sure. If you doubt me, look up the stories of Absalom, Tamar, and Amnon in 2 Samuel 13. Vicious stuff.
When you can count on neighbors and friends in a crisis, count this as a blessing. God inspires people to acts of service and to give gifts that mean the world to people in need. If you feel God nudging you to help someone today, don’t put it off. You don’t want to regret it later if something bad happens to that person and you recall your lost opportunity to help. Take every chance to bless another life.
All God’s blessings to you this week.