Love your Neighbour

I was just going to write another post on loving our neighbour unconditionally. I wrote a part of it and then I realised that I had already written most of what I was writing. So instead of repeating myself, I have decided to think of a list of practical ways in which we can show love to our neighbours.

Loving our neighbours isn't easy to do. It is a big challenge to love unconditionally, to love those who don't show love in return. But if we start in the small ways then our love to others can grow.

Here I've listed three general ideas to begin with, and then following are some of my ideas for practical things that we can do

1. Reach out to others. Don't just talk to the same people that you always talk to - your friends. Step out of your comfort zone and be a friend to others. After church or Bible study, speak to someone that you might not normally talk to. Be a friend to them.
2. Listen. Listening to others is a great way to show that we care about them By this I don't just mean pretending to listen to others and then forgetting what they said, but actually take it in. Show that you understand and even empathise with them if they are speaking about something that might be bothering them
3. Look for needs that can be filled. It's easy enough to talk about filling need but actively look for people that you can help. Things that you yourself can do. Maybe it's mowing the lawn or making a meal or even just giving someone company.

Jesus told us to do unto others as we would have them do to us (Luke 6:27). Its not an easy thing to do but with the help of the Holy Spirit working in us we can. Some of the practical things that this can look like include:

• Smile. At others. It's amazing how a smile can change someones day, show them that someone cares.
• Buy a meal for a homeless person (don't just think about doing it) OR keep snacks in your bag so you have something to give them right there.
• Learn how to change a tire. Instead of thinking that we should help the car stuck on the side of the road, stop and help them. Carry jump leads for the same reason.
• Offer to babysit
• Mow your neighbours lawn
• Bake extra and give it to someone else.
• Pay for the person behind you in the drive through (or the person buying coffee after you etc..)
• Sit next to someone new in your Bible study group. Ask them how their week has been
• Pray for others
• Hold the door open for the person behind you
• visit a local nursing home and spend time with the elderly. They love it!
• Find somewhere local that you can volunteer at. Give as much time as you can however short or long it might be. For WA I found this website that might be helpful http://www.volunteeringwa.org.au/ otherwise your local church might also have some outreach programs set up.
• Ask questions when you talk to people, don't just talk about yourself
• Give up your seat on the train/bus
• Open up to others so they feel they can open up to you. Show that you are also vulnerable
• Be patient with others no matter how long they take
• Donate blood
• Help toursits or others who look lost (I've been on the receiving end here and it is greatly appreciated)

Step out of your comfort zone and reach out to those who God places in your path.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour other, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.