Why Is My Neighbor So Mean?

Read: Colossians 3:12-14 “Knock off that noise!” Mrs. Steele yelled in Lila’s direction. Lila was startled. She’d been curled up with a book, reading quietly on the porch. Surely Mrs. Steele wasn’t talking to her. But she was. Later, when Lila’s dad came home, he noticed that the small windchimes from the front porch were now on the kitchen table. “Did the chimes fall down?” he asked Lila. Lila shook her head, clearly upset. “They were bothering Mrs. Steele. She yelled at me because they woke her up. Dad, why is she so cranky?” Dad sighed. “I’m sorry, honey. Listen, Grandma taught me that when someone is cranky, they might be dealing with hard things, like sickness or loneliness. Let’s try to help Mrs. Steele by being kind to her, even when she’s not kind to us. That’s the kind of love Jesus showed us when He died for our sins, and He’ll help us show His love to Mrs. Steele.” Lila sighed. “Could you hang the chimes up in my bedroom? They remind me of Mom.” “Sure,” he said, giving her a hug. “I miss Mom too.” The next morning before church, Lila saw that Mrs. Steele’s newspaper had landed where it would be hard for the older woman to reach. Lila was tempted to pretend she didn’t notice, but then she remembered what her dad said. So, she took a deep breath, then picked up the newspaper and carried it to her neighbor. “Good morning, Mrs. Steele. How are you today?” Mrs. Steele frowned. “I couldn’t sleep again last night. Too much back pain.” Lila said, “When my grandpa’s back hurts, I do chores for him, like emptying the trash and weeding his garden. Maybe I can do chores for you after Dad and I get home from church and grocery shopping.” Mrs. Steele brightened up. “I could really use a few groceries. I could make a list and give you some money.” “Of course.” Lila smiled. Later that afternoon, Lila carried a small bag of groceries next door and put them away for Mrs. Steele. “What else can I do for you?” she asked. “You could pour us both some juice and tell me what you learned in church today. I used to go, but it’s been ages. I miss it.” –Teresa Ambord How about you? Do you know someone who seems difficult for no reason? It might be a neighbor, a relative, or someone at school. It can be tempting to respond to them the same way they treat you, but Jesus says to be kind and patient. They might be going through something difficult, and you could help them by showing them God’s love. Talk it over with an adult, and trust Jesus to help you treat them the way He would. Today's key verse: Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 (CSB) Today's key thought: Be kind to difficult people