LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR PROJECT
I live next to a very gracious grandmother who has two daughters and 7 grandchildren. They all have lived together in the house next door at various times over the years. These children tie me to my small inner city home where they yell from their bathroom window to my kitchen window, "Hey Becky, can we work today?!!" I must admit that I have hid from them on occasion, but I absolutely love them. It would not be unusual to see 4 children at one time helping me push a small lawn mower. I can't count the times they have knocked on my door and asked, "Can we pick up poop today?" How many people have someone asking to help them pick up dog mess?? If I don't answer my door and they know I'm home, they keep knocking until I open the door. When I don't feel like taking care of my yard, they motivate me to get outside of myself and spend some time with them. They are excited about the smallest things and just want to have my attention and be with me. They come to pet the dog, walk the dog, play on the hoop, and will (try to) jog around the neighborhood with me. They love small prizes that cost me almost nothing. One particular afternoon when I was cleaning downstairs and could not come out, the youngest child, who they call "Le Le" parked herself outside my basement window and sat there with a few toys to play - just wanting to be close by - asking question after question through the window. Although I am not a large part of their lives, I realize that the small things I do to spend time with them and care about them is significant. I'm also reminded that this is the second set of neighborhood children who have grown up in my neighborhood asking to help me each weekend. You don't have to look far to reach out and make a difference - and you don't have to have something "special" to do. The need is often right next door. Love your neighbor. The paintings that follow are my neighbors - the little ones who have made a difference in my life when I chose to give of myself to them. Their paintings will be added one at a time until I have included them all. This project, termed the Love Your Neighbor Project, will hopefully challenge you to do the same - look at those around you - and love your neighbor.
I live next to a very gracious grandmother who has two daughters and 7 grandchildren. They all have lived together in the house next door at various times over the years. These children tie me to my small inner city home where they yell from their bathroom window to my kitchen window, "Hey Becky, can we work today?!!" I must admit that I have hid from them on occasion, but I absolutely love them. It would not be unusual to see 4 children at one time helping me push a small lawn mower. I can't count the times they have knocked on my door and asked, "Can we pick up poop today?" How many people have someone asking to help them pick up dog mess?? If I don't answer my door and they know I'm home, they keep knocking until I open the door. When I don't feel like taking care of my yard, they motivate me to get outside of myself and spend some time with them. They are excited about the smallest things and just want to have my attention and be with me. They come to pet the dog, walk the dog, play on the hoop, and will (try to) jog around the neighborhood with me. They love small prizes that cost me almost nothing. One particular afternoon when I was cleaning downstairs and could not come out, the youngest child, who they call "Le Le" parked herself outside my basement window and sat there with a few toys to play - just wanting to be close by - asking question after question through the window. Although I am not a large part of their lives, I realize that the small things I do to spend time with them and care about them is significant. I'm also reminded that this is the second set of neighborhood children who have grown up in my neighborhood asking to help me each weekend. You don't have to look far to reach out and make a difference - and you don't have to have something "special" to do. The need is often right next door. Love your neighbor. The paintings that follow are my neighbors - the little ones who have made a difference in my life when I chose to give of myself to them. Their paintings will be added one at a time until I have included them all. This project, termed the Love Your Neighbor Project, will hopefully challenge you to do the same - look at those around you - and love your neighbor.
Alyssa
Paris Washing the dog......or that was the plan
