Member-only story
Love God. Love Neighbor. It really is that simple.
“To become a disciple means a decisive and irrevocable turning to both God and neighbor.” — David J. Bosch
All Sandy was trying to do that night was host a simple Christmas Cookie party for her neighbors. Exchange some cookies, tell some stories, and enjoy the festive time of year. But the mood changed when they learned that Sandy’s new neighbor, a young mom in her 30s, had just had a stroke the day before.
Sobered by this news, another neighbor suggested they take up a collection to help pay for her medical expenses and the kids’ Christmas, which they did. A couple weeks later, this young mom had returned home but was facing a difficult recovery. She had partial paralysis and couldn’t do much of anything without assistance. She was learning to walk again. She also struggled emotionally as she wasn’t able to help her family, or work, or do any number of things that had given her identity.
Sandy continued to check in on her and offer help. She prayed for her and brought over a devotional book and they got talking. It turned out her neighbor had a Christian background, was actually a pastor’s daughter, but had largely wandered away from the faith. Her medical crisis had surfaced some old questions. She was asking where God was in all of this, and beginning to find some answers as she started reading the devotional book, and started streaming her father’s church services online.
For the next couple years, Sandy remained a faithful presence in her neighbor’s life, driving her to her many doctors and physical therapy appointments. All the time Sandy spent driving her around led to many conversations about faith and life. Her neighbor came back to her Christian faith, and eventually so did the rest of her family.
Today this neighbor is doing much better and able to be more independent. But Sandy’s relationship with them is stronger than ever. “I am still there a lot. I feel like part of the family. I help the kids with their online schooling. It brought us closer, talking about where is God in tough times. It’s helped me to see God work in hard situations…I’m thankful to have been available, and I think God put all this together, starting with the cookie party to bring…
