Being Neighborly
Stories
LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT
Series III, Cycle A
Bea is 81, but you would never know it looking at her. Bea walks the mall every day, making sure she gets in her two miles. She doesn't walk particularly fast, but she walks steadily. Bea has energy and takes good care of herself, and walking makes her feel good. Besides, in the harsh northern plains, walking season lasts only six months!
Bea has never worked outside the home; her husband was a doctor and they could afford for her to stay home to bring up their daughter and son. She loves to bring treats to her neighbors and has coffee daily with a widow woman across the street. She doesn't live a fancy lifestyle, but she is generous in her giving. Neighbor children know she will never turn them away when they come to sell things for school or scouts.
Last winter, two days before Christmas, Bea was walking home from her neighbor's house - after coffee - when she slipped on a patch of ice. She broke her shoulder. It was very painful and her recovery was long.
Bea was in the hospital two weeks, and a physical therapist came for a few weeks after to make sure Bea knew how to reach for things and didn't injure herself. Bea hated being so inactive. She had planned to have the children over for Christmas. Instead, they came to the hospital and celebrated in her room. It wasn't the same, but Bea has to admit it was unique, with visitors streaming in and out for days. It was fun to have so much commotion, and she jokingly says she was glad not to have to clean up before and after the guests arrived!
When Bea returned from the hospital, her walkway was scraped clean. Her driveway was cleaned and shoveled, and the path from the garage to the kitchen door was cleared. A thick, industrial outdoor mat was carefully laid between the door and the garage. There was no chance Bea would slip on its secure base.
During the winter months, Bea saw neighbors come to shovel, scrape, and blow the snow away. Even though she wasn't going anywhere for a while, her driveway was always carefully cleared. Bea still cries when she shares that she would be sitting at her kitchen table eating and she would see neighbors tending to her yard or bringing her food. She called them often to tell them how much she appreciated it. Every time they declared they were "just being neighborly."
That spring was unusually wet. Bea stepped out one morning to find a newspaper tube hung next to her door. All she had to do was open the door and right at the same level as the door handle hung a newspaper tube. A piece of roof gutter was attached and the water was drained to the back, into the bushes. What a clever idea!
Her neighbors take good care of her, and when she asks them if she can pay them, they laugh. They recall all the times she has brought them meals, all the times she would joyfully babysit their children, all the times she and her husband gave them candy as they took their evening walk.
What a testimony! What a joy! What wonderful neighbors to have!
Bea has never worked outside the home; her husband was a doctor and they could afford for her to stay home to bring up their daughter and son. She loves to bring treats to her neighbors and has coffee daily with a widow woman across the street. She doesn't live a fancy lifestyle, but she is generous in her giving. Neighbor children know she will never turn them away when they come to sell things for school or scouts.
Last winter, two days before Christmas, Bea was walking home from her neighbor's house - after coffee - when she slipped on a patch of ice. She broke her shoulder. It was very painful and her recovery was long.
Bea was in the hospital two weeks, and a physical therapist came for a few weeks after to make sure Bea knew how to reach for things and didn't injure herself. Bea hated being so inactive. She had planned to have the children over for Christmas. Instead, they came to the hospital and celebrated in her room. It wasn't the same, but Bea has to admit it was unique, with visitors streaming in and out for days. It was fun to have so much commotion, and she jokingly says she was glad not to have to clean up before and after the guests arrived!
When Bea returned from the hospital, her walkway was scraped clean. Her driveway was cleaned and shoveled, and the path from the garage to the kitchen door was cleared. A thick, industrial outdoor mat was carefully laid between the door and the garage. There was no chance Bea would slip on its secure base.
During the winter months, Bea saw neighbors come to shovel, scrape, and blow the snow away. Even though she wasn't going anywhere for a while, her driveway was always carefully cleared. Bea still cries when she shares that she would be sitting at her kitchen table eating and she would see neighbors tending to her yard or bringing her food. She called them often to tell them how much she appreciated it. Every time they declared they were "just being neighborly."
That spring was unusually wet. Bea stepped out one morning to find a newspaper tube hung next to her door. All she had to do was open the door and right at the same level as the door handle hung a newspaper tube. A piece of roof gutter was attached and the water was drained to the back, into the bushes. What a clever idea!
Her neighbors take good care of her, and when she asks them if she can pay them, they laugh. They recall all the times she has brought them meals, all the times she would joyfully babysit their children, all the times she and her husband gave them candy as they took their evening walk.
What a testimony! What a joy! What wonderful neighbors to have!
