About the Author

Jen encourages women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives at BeautyandBedlam.com. A popular speaker, worship leader, and author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Jen lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, and a sofa for anyone...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Thank you for your words of encouragement, Jen. I know that this is something I need to get so much better at.

  2. Would that all of us reach out to the “others” our society would have us hate. If I don’t reach out to show God’s love who will?

    • Exactly, Maura. It’s always such a pivotal reminder that we may be the very person God chooses to use.

  3. I’ve thought about this many times. We love our neighbors. But our next door neighbor which we have lived next to for 20 years… we’ve been good neighbors, and so have they: helping each other out, social events as a group. But I just cannot spend time with her anymore one on one, or in a small group. If we are together for an hour, she talks nonstop for 55 minutes. Every single time. For 20 years. With any ear and any neighbor she can grab. She works out of the house, so it’s not like she never sees anyone. She spreads words wherever she goes. Every bit of minutiae from every unending story. And to ask a simple yes-or-no question leads to 20 minutes of irrelevant info. So I have just been waving, saying “Hi!” and moving by. Any comments on this situation?

    • Stephanie – this is such a challenging one but thank you for still being a good neighbor to her.

      With situations like this, I first want to ask myself if she knows Jesus. If she doesn’t, then I’ll want to make conversations still happen that can hopefully point her to His love. Yes, with boundaries but still maybe allow yourself margin every once in awhile to “handle” the long convos.

      Does she have some core loneliness issues where she doesn’t have others to talk with and she see you as a welcoming ear?

      If she’s just a talker who loves Jesus, then she may have others in her life to be that friend. You can be there in moments of crisis or helping out like a good neighbor would and maybe every every once i awhile, ask her over for coffee knowing that she’ll talk your ear off.

      Thanks for asking. Sounds like you have neighbored well. 🙂

  4. Stephanie,

    Our neighbors are the granddaughter, her husband, son plus others of the original owners. When their son was born I got them a nice baby gift as a loving gesture. I know the grand daughter has had a tough life & has no family left-she is only in her 30s. They are a bit trashy with cars in the yard, & other stuff in the back yard. We are pleasant to them.

    I volunteer with Loaves & Fishes food bank. We love on everyone that comes needing food boxes, meals or both. Sometimes we pray with them. Last Saturday (4/15) we had a yard sale & clothing giveaway. I saw a mom looking for clothes for her children. I asked what size she wore. Went about trying to find some nice tops or whatever for her. I know moms are all about their children, but never think of themselves. Just another way to love thy neighbor.

    Blessings 🙂