Who Is My Neighbor/

“According to Jesus, your neighbor is anyone in need, regardless of their background or relationship to you. Jesus illustrated this with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where a Samaritan, traditionally an outsider, showed compassion to a wounded traveler, and the traveler was the Samaritan’s neighbor.” 1 Luke 10: 29-37 (KJV). 

These photos are of our family and friends at “Love Thy Neighbor Food Pantry.” These wonderful volunteers work endlessly week after week, helping our community. Sometimes, they have four or five days of labor and do it all out of love. We want to thank them for all their efforts and selfless giving.

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This is a moment in time captured of our House of God church family. Our beloved Pastor Jacqueline Taylor (centered front) has been called home to be with our Lord.

God gives us everything we need to make it through this road we call life. One of His greatest gifts, besides our Savior Jesus Christ, is one another. “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

There are times we try to live life on our own, but we can end up exhausted, frustrated, and desperately needing help. Don’t be afraid to accept assistance or even to ask for it.

Last weekend, I hosted a senior bus trip to New York City, Atlantic City, and Philadelphia. I took my daughter Stephanie with me, and we traveled with thirty-six other adults. It was an amazing time!

This wasn’t my first overnight trip with the responsibility of group leader, but I was a year older, and it had been a couple of years since the last one in Vermont. For some strange reason, little things started to distract me: keeping track of who needed to be called when we arrived, making certain everyone had their room keys, answering various important pieces of information, etc. It was late in the evening when we got into our rooms the first night. Medicines and showers needed to be administered before retiring to bed. When I saw our suite, yes, a suite. A separate room with two queen-sized beds. The place was beyond my expectations. Another blessing for which I will always be grateful is help when needed. I would get confused at times about where I needed to be or which door from a building would take me back to the bus. When I was in a fix, I called one of my friends and fellow travelers, Donna. She sent out help to find my daughter and me. The entire weekend, whether it was helping to pass out door prizes, play games, or carry luggage, water, and snacks from my car to the bus, my friends would prove to be loving, supportive, and encouraging. Several guys would do the mandatory head count to make sure everyone was onboard! I thank God for each one of them! Talk about loving our neighbor!

God wants us to get along with each other. I know we sometimes get on each other’s nerves, but that’s why Jesus’ example of loving others should encourage us. His words in the Bible can direct or re-direct us in the way we need to interact with our fellow humans.

“Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (New English Translation) NET.

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