This One Thing

Valerie Cullers 19 Comments

Now that January is almost gone, and all of my so-called resolutions have either been implemented or discarded, I thought about one resolution that I could implement each day that actually might make a difference in my neighborhood. This year, I decided that the one thing I would like to implement was to love my neighbor as myself.

You know, it sounds simple, but it really isn’t. My neighbor has her own catering business, and her garbage is near to overflowing every time she puts it out for the garbage trucks to pick up. Many times, after they dump her garbage, there is some lying on the ground. Sometimes, it blows into our yard. My first response is usually irritation as I look out the window and see it blowing by. I have decided to move from that response to a kinder response. I am thankful she has a good job. I am thankful that once in a while, she brings my husband and me lunch, etc., etc.

This may sound simplistic to you, but it has changed my outlook. Every time one of our neighbors makes a lot of noise or their dogs bark, after my initial irritation, I am choosing to think kindly of them. My neighbors don’t even know that my attitude has changed, but I know. It has made a difference inside of me.

Don’t get me wrong – I like my neighbors. I just want to have a kinder, gentler attitude towards them this year. I know I will be a nicer person inside, and perhaps some of that kindness may even move from an inside attitude to an outward action. You never know, after I pick up some of my neighbor’s trash that has blown into my yard, I may even pick up some of hers. Stranger things have happened!

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

19 thoughts on “This One Thing”

  2. I fully support your new ‘tude!

    I’ve been desperately failing in trying to love this one person I work with. Just seeing her grates on my last nerve. Every Thursday I say, “God, Linda is coming to the store this morning, please help me be kind to her.” and it actually works. Until she sees me and says, “Good morning”

    If we were all perfect, it would be a terribly boring world and God would never hear from us.

    Charge ahead with your good thoughts! I know you can make a difference!

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  3. Shifting our perspective to kindness, especially in small daily actions, can make such a big difference. Loving our neighbors as ourselves really starts from within, and your thoughtful approach is inspiring.

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  6. What a worthy, challenging, and perceptive NY resolution, Valerie, and one that would benefit us all! Here’s a great Substack post from Free Press on a related theme: https://www.thefp.com/p/whatever-happens-love-thy-neighbor-trump-kamala?utm_medium=email

    Oh how we could grow spiritually and emotionally by seeing each other through God’s eyes instead of our own self focused myopia. Politics and civil discourse would soon be less vitriolic and rancorous.

    My own resolutions predated the new year, and I know will be a lifelong work of the Spirit. There are three parts. The first two are closely related: to be more intentional throughout the day in hearing the gentle and soft promptings of the Spirit, which are always rooted in love. Allowing those “heavenly interuptions” to guide me instead of my own self absorbed agenda. Always to be heard better in silence than in the cacophony and noise of our normal post modern lives. The second part is to be more aware of the Spirit’s accompaniment from minute to minute to soften my own uncharitable judgmentalness.

    The third and now getting to be a solid habit is a nightly examination of conscience as part of pre bedtime prayer. How did I do today? In my previously mentioned resolutions and against an unchanging benchmark rooted in Galatians 5:22-23.

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law”

    As I review my thoughts, words, and actions of the day, where did I love (i.e. will the good of the other), and when didn’t I? When did I bring joy, and when did I spread anxiety or divisiveness or rancor? When did I help others and myself to be more peaceful, patient, kind, virtuous, to grow in faith, to be gentle rather than harsh, and to gain control over our sinful natures that started with the Fall? And when did I feed the anger, loneliness and alienation of others and myself?

    Surely, a work of a lifetime and one in which, like all of us, will certainly remain imperfect in this world. But to which I can aspire and allow God to work in me. Not something I can hope to “achieve” by my own efforts, but towards which I can turn in the many small decisions of my day. Knowing it is the Spirit alone in Whom I can rely to help me.

    “Jesus, I trust in You.”

    Thank you for the honesty, thoughtfulness, and the love you show through this post.

    God bless all here.

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    • Jack, your insight is always so thoughtful and we (myself and my readers) appreciate it so much. Worthy intentions and the thought of the quiet is so notable. How can we hear the Spirit in the midst of all of the noise?
      I hope you and yours are doing well.

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