Good neighborliness

“…and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.” Proverbs 27:10 N.I.V

To have neighbors is to have issues; whether you live in the country or city. Your neighbor’s teenage son will keep you awake with his loud music, your barking dog will do the same for them, and cows will stray into someone’s garden. We never get to choose our neighbors but we need to be friendly, helpful, kind and polite to them. It is infectious and begins a cycle of goodwill that benefits everyone. We should not be so engrossed in the business and problems of our daily lives that we forget to be nice. A nice smile in the morning, or any other time can make a great day for your neighbor and for yourself. It bounces back. It is an insurance against disasters since your relatives may be too far to be of any help when you need assistance and comfort. Sometimes also, true tested friendship might be more reliable than blood ties.

But as the Bible says, know your limits: good neighbors also value the privacy of others. “Don't visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.”  Proverbs 25:17

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A good neighbor is a fellow who smiles at you over the back fence, but doesn't climb over it. – Arthur Baer

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