On the Serious Side

I know I posted the Beatles song two weeks ago but I just can't get the idea out of my head. One of the greatest commandments it to love thy neighbor as thyself. That love motivates every other action we take. We bring dinners, fix fences, babysit, move, listen, and every other thing we do for the people we love. Our neighbor is everyone else we come in contact with in our lives, especially the ones that we aren't particularly fond of. It's easy to do nice things for people we love, or even like. It's the ones that make us crazy or hurt us that become the test of our belief in that great commandment.

This past week my sister-in-law had a mental breakdown. Her husband (Dan's brother) passed away unexpectedly in December and since then she has been in a downward spiral, offending people with her behavior in terrible ways. One famliy in particular that was deeply hurt was a family that had been loving and helping she and David since they met. This family is an example of following the commandment to love thier nieghbor, even in the worst of times. Even though they were very hurt by my sister-in-laws behavior towards them, they forgave her immediately and have been taking care of her dogs (boxers who no one else will go near) since she has been in the hospital. They didn't even hesitate.

If everyone in the world could be this loving and forgiving, can you imagine what an amazing place this world would be?!? Their example makes me want to do better, be better, love better. Thank you Petersons.