|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| A Plate of Cookies |
|
| |
A couple of years ago we got new neighbors in the house across the street: a single mom and a bunch of kids, elementary through college age. The older ones peeled out when they left their house; trash was thrown in our yard from their car windows; their Rottweiler was way too aggressive and some other neighbors started reporting him to the dogcatcher. Nothing like making a great first impression. Shortly after they moved in, I did that neighborly thing and brought them a plate of cookies, a circular stack of still-warm chocolate chip cookies, neatly arranged on a paper plate. Yes, I know, if I would have used a real plate then they would have had to bring it back and that would allow for another opportunity for me to get to know them. So as I was saying, the cookies were on a paper plate… When I brought the cookies over, the Rottweiler appeared to be in the back yard. This was good, although he could jump the fence. The youngest child was in the front yard and as I approached I asked him if his mom was home. He said she was, so I asked him to tell her that the neighbor was here with some cookies. He went inside and after a few minutes came back and said, “She doesn’t want any cookies.” Well, this being neighborly was getting me somewhere, wasn’t it? I stood there for a moment, then asked the boy, “Would you like the cookies?” “Sure!” he replied. I told him to be sure and check with his mom before eating any and to share with his family. Then I asked him if his mom might like to just come out to meet me. Back into the house he went, and a few minutes later his mom showed up at the door. I introduced myself and told her I was her neighbor from across the street. I said that if she ever needed anything to just give a yell. (I knew she was capable of this, see, having heard her address the kids and the dog in this manner.) She just kind of blew me off and never even told me her name. Okay, so much for it being a beautiful day in the neighborhood. As I walked back to my house I did a mental dusting off of the dirt on my feet, so to speak. I had made the attempt to be neighborly and it had been rebuffed. So be it. Duty was done, right? Love thy neighbor. When she ended up on crutches after a car accident, I briefly considered going over there again to see if she needed help with anything. But I quickly rationalized that she had all the help she needed with the kids and a part-time, live-in boyfriend. Besides, she wouldn’t even wave back when I waved to her as I passed her house and saw her out front, sitting on the front steps smoking. She obviously wanted to be left alone. Love thy neighbor. Awhile back I was praying to God about this situation. “If you want me to love this neighbor, God, You’re going to have to make some opportunities for it.” One time when I was on my walk, her youngest was in front of me on the sidewalk. I said hi to him and he started chattering away. I asked if his mom’s leg was all better and his eyes got wide. “How did you know about her leg?” he asked. “ “I’m your neighbor from across the street,” I replied. “Oh, you’re the one who brought us cookies! Those were the best cookies!” “Since you liked them so much, I’ll bring you some more next time I make them,” I said. So I did. Then one day when the mom and I went to our respective mailboxes at the same time, she started a conversation about the weather. I crossed the street and we talked about the fires and heat of the summer and I found out her name was Vickie, (she still had on her name tag from work), and that her water bill was high and paying rent and all the utilities was a real stretch. Then I took over a loaf of banana bread, just giving it to her youngest one day when he was playing outside. Yesterday she was at my door, almost in tears. She was on her way to work and the kids were already at school and her other dog, (the little Shar Pei), was missing. Had I seen him? I hadn’t, but told her I would keep an eye out and put him back in the yard if he showed up. Would she like me to give her a call at work if he came home? She would, and gave me the number. She told me she was thinking about getting rid of the dogs. She loved them, but they were as much work as the kids and she had her hands full already, with no help from the father. I said that it must be very hard to raise kids by yourself and have to work full time, and that if there was anything I could do to help for her to just ask. I didn’t find the dog, but he was back behind the fence when I got home from work. Love thy neighbor. God will make a way. |
|
| To leave a comment or start your own blog: |
 |
or |
 |
Already a member? Login |
|
|
|
|
| Amen, Jen! That's very encouraging. We've both been praying for exactly those kinds of opportunities with our own neighbors! Several of them as a matter of fact. The Lord has blessed us with good neighbors, some believers and some not. It's been fun thus far blazing trails to friendship. Hopefully the Lord will keep opening doors. (As a matter of fact, we invited all of the neighbors to our place this coming weekend for a crab feast, if you think of us please say a prayer that it goes well and that the Holy Spirit is evident!) |
|
|
I wish I was your neighbor, I love chocolate chips cookies and banana bread!
I can't wait for the update to this one. |
|
|
Beautiful Jen
Keep pressing on sister. Perseverance with the Love of Christ, you are planting beautiful seeds. Keep loving her. Bless you! |
|
|
| That is super sweet Jen. And banana bread? That warms my heart just thinking about it. :) |
|
|
Glenn |
 |
October 04, 2007 at 12:38pm |
|
Hey Jen,
Just keep loving your neighbor even when they are unlovalbe. I know this can be very hard, but God will always make a way as you have said and shown in your blog. I love reading your writing, keep it up.
peace
glenn |
|
|
Jen, this is wonderful, and thank God for you, and your heart of true Love, "IF we make way for others God will make away for us" Others Lord 'yes Others
let this my motto be!
Help me live for others
that i might live for thee! |
|
|
Denise |
|
October 04, 2007 at 12:54pm |
|
| So sweet of you Jen not to give up. God will surely reward you. |
|
|
| Very encouraging story Jen. |
|
|
JAN |
|
October 04, 2007 at 2:39pm |
|
| Beautiful Jen you allowed God to work and that isn't always easy when we are rebuked in such a way..Amen to you |
|
|
Thanks Jen. This helps me to not give up on people, even if they don't reciprocate immediately. God Bless You, Jess PS, I don't remember most sermons, but I've always remembered the cookies my neighbor used to make for us! |
|
|
Kathy |
|
October 04, 2007 at 4:55pm |
|
| I love your persistence, Jen! Sometimes I give up too quickly! (And I never make banana bread!) |
|
|
Kathy |
|
October 04, 2007 at 5:33pm |
|
| Put some bananas in it, and share it with the rest of us! |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 04, 2007 at 5:40pm |
|
Mike - how great that you are reaching out to your neighbors! Of course I'll pray for you and Laura and the kids: for opportunities to show the light of Christ through love, compassion, service, friendship, a listening ear, and good food on the table! Rich - I don't like to cook, but I love to bake. We woke up to cold temps and snow on the mountains the other day, and I started baking! Funny thing is, I never eat my own banana bread. (I'm allergic to bananas.) I hear it's really good, though. :-) I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and took them to the paint stores where we do business. They've been giving us a lot of referrals for work and I wanted to thank them. It was a perfect chocolate chip cookie day: cold, wet and windy. (I made pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner that night. That I did eat.) Becky - after Vickie left my door the other morning, I was thanking God big time for the "open door". He is so faithful! |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 04, 2007 at 5:56pm |
|
Keith - isn't it great when God supplies the love for others that we may not have on our own? At one point last year, it looked like this neighbor was moving out. (A whole lot of furniture and stuff being loaded up in a pickup. Turned out either one of the older kids or the boyfriend left.) At the time, I was hoping it was her and all the kids... Shame on me! :-( Denise, Dave, Carrie Ann, & Jan - Thanks for the encouraging words. I'll definitely need perseverance with this one. "Self" would like to take the easy street and give up on it! Kathy - Lots of times I give up too quickly! I'll keep my humble pie all to myself. As much as I like to bake, I don't make a very good pie. Maybe this is because I don't really like pie, be it of the humble variety or some other kind (that should be) more tasty! Jess - I'm excited to see what else God does with me and this neighbor. Of course, I'd probably enjoy it more if somebody else was doing the "love thy neighbor" thing and I just got to watch! :-) |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 04, 2007 at 6:06pm |
|
Carol - When I bake, I usually give most of it away. I've always found it a curious thing how people respond to homemade goodies. When I was working at Starbucks, I gave some banana bread to some regular customers. (They had invited me to their "Open House" at their new offices and I couldn't make it, so I gave them a congratulatory card and a gift bag full of coffee, mugs, banana bread and pumpkin bars.) Afterwards, they kept bragging to other regular customers and the baristas that they had gotten goodies from me. Then they wanted to know if they could pay me to bake for them on a regular basis. Too funny!! Glenn - God does make a way, sometimes even when we'd rather He didn't... Glad to hear you like the blogs. Most days, I like writing them! :-) |
|
|
patti |
|
October 04, 2007 at 6:12pm |
|
| It seems our fallen world has woven such coldness and fear in our hearts, that when LOVE comes around it often gets rebuffed...but sometimes it is finally able to get through....God made a way in this case.....softened her heart....built a bridge of circumstance....I have been in some similiar situations....I think it surprises people when we care....it so rare...."care is rare"....(I just made that up!) With no strings....Good point JessIAm....I once heard that people may not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel...... |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 04, 2007 at 6:24pm |
|
I once heard that people may not remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel...... Excellent point, Patti! |
|
|
Deb |
|
October 05, 2007 at 11:43am |
|
| Excellent blog, Jen. A very heartwarming story, and your tenacity paid off. God will make a way! |
|
|
A STAR - Jen that's what you are! A true example of what is means to be "like Jesus!"
Pastor Aminata
btw Mike - ah... crabs! Father this is a time for miracles.... Mike you too can show your Christ likeness if you Fedx me some crabs... I'll even pay for the Fedx....lol seriously! |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 05, 2007 at 3:18pm |
|
| Thanks, Deb and Pastor Aminata, for the kind words! We are having cold, rainy weather here again and I'm thinking about baking again; my husband put in his request for peanut butter cookies and/or pumpkin bread. I'm thinking about some of the young single people at our church who live on their own and might like some homemade treats... |
|
|
ok Jen,
Peanut butter cookies are my all time favorites. Ok, so like, email me for my address and let's talk Fedx....
Pastor Aminata |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 05, 2007 at 5:10pm |
|
Thanks, J.F.! Pastor Aminata - P.B. cookies are my husband's favorite, as well! They are another thing that I don't eat; I'm allergic to peanuts. Sometimes I'm hesitant to give away the banana bread or p.b.c.'s until someone in the family has tried them and made sure they taste okay. You know, in case I forgot to add the sugar or something. This hasn't ever happened, but ya never know... So, hop a plane and visit me; I'll make you some cookies and a fresh pot of Starbucks coffee, in case you like to dunk 'em. If the weather stays cold and icky like this, we're talking a pot of chili and cornbread for dinner tomorrow night. Ah, the joy of comfort food! :-) |
|
|
Joey |
|
October 08, 2007 at 2:15pm |
|
How kind and generous. You just never know what is going on is someone's life. Thank you for this wonderful reminder of loving out neighbors. |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 08, 2007 at 2:45pm |
|
| Thanks, Joey! I need the reminder myself, most days... |
|
|
Jen |
|
October 09, 2007 at 7:15am |
|
| I read your profile page, Arlene, and you don't want to relocate here. I live in Montana, where there are nine months of winter and three months of rough sledding! Not the warm weather you want, girl! :-) I'm definitely not that selfless; read my blog Drudgery and you'll see the flip side of it! |
|
|
Jen you are my heroine. Wait, I'm not on heroin anymore. You are my hero'ess? OK...so what's the feminine form of hero?
Anyway, I admire you. I hope to able to reach out to my neighbors some day. Right now I just pray this:
Lord, please don't let any of my neighbors shoot me today!
|
|
|
Jen~ As I read your story, I felt a warming sensation in my heart, just thinking about being able to help a neighbor. We live in the country. We have neighbors, but we all keep to ourselves. No one reaches out to each other. That's kinda why I think we all chose to live in the country to get an escape from the world. I kinda feel like I am not doing my part now. I am happy to get home just in-time to cook supper and fellowship with my family. I can't imagine having time for anyone else. Oh if we could only be like the Waltons or Little House on the Prairie when neighbors were there for each other. *SIGH* LOL!
Actually, I did stop by a neighbors last week. She bakes cookies & cakes and sells them every year between Dec. 8-10th. I have drove past her house for 3 years, never stopping. This year I made it a point to step out & stop in. I bought the kids some cute little Christmas tree candies & some home made raspberry mocha coffee she made. It was a real pleasure to get to know a neighbor.
Jen~ Your an ispiration to me. Must be that Starbucks Friendly Atmosphere that rubbed off on you. ( Haahaaa. Just kidd'n. Its the love of God.) |
|
|
LorenDP |
|
December 19, 2007 at 10:55am |
|
| I'm glad someone bumped this. This was an awesome story. |
|
|
Jen |
|
December 19, 2007 at 12:48pm |
|
Hey, Michael! Now, why would your neighbors shoot you? Rough part of town, or are you causing trouble...? :-) I live in town, Shannon, but our neighbors aren't any better about reaching out to one another. I know there are ones I could count on in an emergency or whatever, but on a regular basis we all tend to keep to ourselves. Sad! :-( (Glad to hear you made it a point to stop at the baking lady's house! I'm sure she was happy to get to know you, too!) Thanks, Loren! I'm glad it was bumped too; it's a good reminder to me to be reaching out to this neighbor more than I have. Time for another plate of cookies...? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
back to top
