What does it mean to be a good neighbor? Scripture tells us, our neighbors aren’t just our physical next-door neighbors, but our neighbors are everyone. Being a good neighbor is more than just being kind and polite. It’s about treating our neighbors the way we want to be treated, serving them, and putting them above ourselves. When we love our neighbors well, we aren’t just showing them they are known and loved by us, we are showing them they are known and loved by Christ. When we act as a good neighbor, we are modeling Christ-like behavior.

It's easy for us, even as ministry volunteers, to get wrapped up in our routines and busy schedules. Even though our hearts are in the right place, and we are actively serving others, we can feel rushed while serving and eager to move on to the next thing on our to do list. When we slow down and take time to sit with others, this is an act of being a good neighbor. A few weeks ago, one of our Summer Food Program volunteers was delivering food bags to local families. It was blazing hot outside, and he had a busy day in front of him. It would have been easy to ignore the elderly lady sitting by her front door watching his delivery progress. Instead of rushing by, he stopped his routine and spoke to her. He got to listen to her story, tell her who we are and why we’re doing what we’re doing, and build a relationship with her. As a result, our volunteer and this sweet lady have become friends and we are now able to start serving the food she needs as well.

We can all take a cue from this volunteer. We don’t have to be serving at the time either. We can be at the grocery store, walking our dog at the park, or even sitting at our kid’s sports practice. All we have to do is be open and willing to take the first step to build a relationship and show someone the act of even just a few kind words or helping them carry their grocery bags to their car. Being a good neighbor doesn’t have to an extravagant act of generosity. It can be just taking a few minutes out of your day to pause and be with each other.

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