“Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers” (Philem. 1:7 MSG).
A few weeks ago, when the mandate to “stay the blazes home” began, a gentleman in the community put a bag on our front door. In that bag were venison steaks, ground meat, and sausages. This small bag brought us joy. Last week, a neighbour cleaned out her barn full of sheep manure. She bagged it up and offered some to us. (Leona is an avid gardener.) These bags brought us joy. A couple of days ago, we were given a dozen eggs, fresh from the pen. This small carton also brought us joy. Two days ago, another lady put four cooked lobsters on our porch – more joy delivered in a bag!
Joy! Where does it come from? As I reflected on these gifts, the joy (for me) was not in the gifts. The joy was in the thought – as we sit isolated in our home, people are thinking about us. At some point, someone either thought, Who would like to have this? and our family came to mind, or someone thought, What can I do for the Hunts? and they thought of something. It’s not about the items, it’s about the thoughts – and knowing this brings me joy.
“Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don’t have anything: This day is holy to God. Don’t feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!” (Neh. 8:10 MSG).
Some may think, I wish someone would do that for me. In all honesty, I haven't wished it, it just came – people are just thinking about me. Now I wonder about paying it forward. What can I do for someone else? This is the righteous mindset. So, let us not grumble & wonder, Why doesn't someone do that for me? But let us ask, What can I do for someone else?
In our current state of mandated social distancing, is it OK to deliver these types of practical blessings to our neighbours?
Let’s take our cue from our government. They’ve allowed drive-throughs to stay open. They’ve allowed fast-food deliveries to the homes – by strangers. And they’ve allowed curbside pick-up for non-essential items. How much more essential is a blessing delivered by a friend? I say it’s more essential than ever! Each blessing we received was done with no contact, in complete adherence to the social-distancing guidelines.
So, what can you do?
First, pray. Always pray. Ask God to put ideas into your mind and heart, and then make sure your good deeds are still within governmental guidelines. Here are some ideas:
Bake something and put it on someone’s step (call them to let them know it's there).
Make a sign (Thinking of You), drive into their driveway, honk your horn, and show it to them.
Draw a happy face on a balloon and tie it to a door.
Stand on the hood of your car and sing a song for a senior citizen who cannot get out.
Be creative, but also abide by the law. Have fun with it, and you just might find it is more blessed to give than to receive!
What does it mean to be neighbourly? Let your imagination soar!
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10 NIV).