In the parabale of the Good Samaritan Jesus is asked the question, Who is my neighbor? His answer still challenges us today. Our neighbor can sometimes be someone that we do not like or who we are afraid of.
Dean is keeping busy at work with his administrative assistant duties. He has made good progress since he first began in September of last year. He still has things to learn and finds it quite challenging at times. Dean shared that at work there is that balancing act between working hard and taking time to encourage people when the opportunity presents itself.
Tuti has appreciated attending a positive parenting class through the local school district. The course is designed specifically for special needs children. Tuti is excited that this information is not only helping her within her own family but she is using it in her wider communication and interaction with friends and particularly the neighborhood children . She said that “I’m having to change the way I think and what I say instead of expecting the other person to do the changing”. It has also removed a lot of the frustration because she now allows much more time to deal with issues and is learning to be more understanding. Tuti is interested in helping out with the Autism support ministry at church but is unsure when to start the process. Dean and Tuti took the membership class and are now members of DLBC.
So who is my neighbor? Your neighbor is whoever God has put you in contact with for this moment of time. At times the very people we work with fellow Christians can be hard to get along with or we ignore them, Is this the way it should be? Ideally no but sadly it is a reality. This may come as a shock but Dean and Tuti do not have it all together and they do not always feel like ministering to others but the love of Christ compels them. Sometimes they do a good job and sometimes they blow it but they keep trying and starting again by Gods grace and through His strength they keep going.
Go out and show kindness to your neighbor today.