Are you a neighbor?  Or do you just live next door?  We’ve experienced both and ‘neighbor’ WINS.

I’m not sure how it happens.  Chatting across the fence.  Waving as you pass their house. The need to borrow a tool usually clinches the deal.  I believe we all crave community.  Relationships.

This doesn’t mean you invite those living next door over, as soon as they regain consciousness in the middle of their yard (true story).  Some situations are best left to prayer.

Yes, there is the vulnerability factor.  What if they think my house is a mess?  Children have amazing timing to break something, fight, or require discipline, usually in front of a crowd. Generally my feeling has been, it’s your house, those are your kids.  I’ve got my own backyard to keep picked up.

We’ve shared ‘fence mail’ with two sets of neighbors.  A quick phone call with the cryptic message, ‘there’s a bag on the fence’.  It’s like Christmas, I’m not kidding.  It might be a recipe, hand-me-downs (for the kids or even me!), Chinese pancakes on New Year’s Day. Ya never know.

A couple of years ago I organized a surprise party for my husband.  It was such a blast inviting old neighbors.  Old neighbors meeting other old neighbors meeting current neighbors.  Lots of laughs and dozens of stories.

These people have mowed our yard while we left to bury my father, babysat so I could take our foster babies for their visitations, borrowed eggs, shared leftovers, cried over moves.  I love them one and all.

Step out of your comfort zone.  Take a plate of cookies over.  Make eye contact.  Makes the ride more enjoyable.