Yes, there are prostitutes on the street corners. Yes, there are drug dealers down the way. Yes, there was that kid who took my flag. Yes, there are a couple guys who always let their pit bulls crap in my yard as they walk by. Yes, there are the drunkards in the apartment across the street who seem to think my front yard enjoys their dozens of empty Bud and Bud light cans every weekend.
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But there are also people like Ellen. Ellen and her family brought us dinner on Friday night. It was piping hot. She brought some fresh home-baked chocolate bread, too. Then their family circled around my family, and Ellen's husband prayed for my daughter to be a child of peace and to someday walk with Christ.
Ellen came back tonight with a mutual friend. This time, we were treated to zucchini quiche, a salad, and a tub of rice crispie treats. Robyn has already requested the recipe for a later sampling. Ellen reminded us that she's going to bring us dinner on Thursday, too.
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And then there are people like Raphael and Paula from a few houses down. They rang our doorbell around 10:00 this morning. Raphael offered a tray of his made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls. Paula presented a gift bag with an outfit for Aimee and a fun dinosaur T-shirt for Toby ("just to make sure he doesn't feel left out"). Paula gave us her cell number just in case we ever need anything.
They stayed for awhile. We chatted about the neighborhood, the view of the street from our second floor, kids, the new Kroger building, amongst other things. As they left, I finished thanking them for the millionth time, somewhat dumbfounded by their "unnecessary" generosity. Paula reprimanded me for using that U word, saying "of course it's unnecessary, but we're neighbors. Neighbors do these kinds of things."
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If neighbors really do these kinds of things, then why were we so surprised at the generous outpouring of service to us this week? I have the answer... it's shocking because this kind of serving is dead. It's shocking because no one does it anymore.
May we do such things. May we not forget how wonderful it has been to be served, and may it prompt us to do in kind what has been done for us.
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1 comment:
I've been sort of following your blog for a while now, and I just wanted to say that it makes me so happy that people like you and your wife choose to live in Price Hill. My parents live on Crestline Ave, and I grew up there--before the neighborhood took a turn for the worse. While my parents could afford to move elsewhere they're absolutely stubbornly committed to staying in the neighborhood. I worry about my parents sometimes, but your blog entries always make me feel optimistic about the future of the neighborhood.
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