Attitude of Gratitude Day 22 - Weather/Neighbors

Attitude of Gratitude Day 22

Weather/Neighbors

Journaling reads:

Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood Lyrics

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Could you be mine?
Would you be mine?

It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood
A neighborly day for a beauty
Could you be mine?
Would you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you

Let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together, might as well say
Would you be my, could you be my
Won't you be my neighbor?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all [of] your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”   But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”   Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.   Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.   So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.   But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.   He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.   And the next day he took out two denarii [a day’s wages] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’   Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”   He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

 

This started out to be a post about the beautiful day.  But after remembering the song Mr. Rogers used to sing at the opening of his program, it turned into being about neighbors.  It is a shame that we don’t know our neighbors the way our mothers and fathers and grandparents knew their neighbors.  I’m talking about the next door neighbors.  Mark and I speak to our next door neighbors when we see them, but that is not very often.  We wave to the neighbors across the road when we see them.  But again that is not very often.  Everyone leads such busy lives that there seems to be no time for getting together socially with the people we live next door to.  And, to be honest, I don’t really want to put myself out there for others to know the ins and outs and daily activities of my life.  There is so much evil in the world you, sometimes, can’t even trust your own family!  Because of that I want to “keep my nose in my own business” and I want everyone else to do the same!

 

That being said, that isn’t what Jesus did.  Jesus didn’t stay locked up inside the house all His life.  He didn’t even have a house to call His own.  He was out and about, meeting and greeting and talking to His “neighbors.”  That was anyone He came into contact with.  How many times did he spend the night with “strangers?”  I need to be more like my pastor who is not afraid to talk to “strangers.”  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not suggesting we hit the streets and go with any Tom, Dick, or Harry who invites us home with them!  But I know I need to be more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit to at least talk to my neighbors.  But it gives my heart trepidation to even thinking about it! 

 

Lord, my prayer today is that I would decide to step out in faith more often and speak words of wisdom and salvation to those I come in contact with.  And please forgive my failures at the attempts I make!  Help me to trust You more!  Thank You for the beautiful day in my neighborhood.  Thank You for the patience and mercy You show to Your weak children every day!

 

Reminder to Self:

Have No Fear – Matthew 10:26-33 (ESV)

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.   What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.   And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

 

Credits list:

Eucalyptus | Mixed Media Kit by Rachel Jefferies

Eucalyptus | Impasto by Rachel Jefferies

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood lyrics

Fonts are Arial Narrow and Aprillica Regular

Photos are mine