By Laura Voth, CEO
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ~Matthew 22:36-39
If you want to make a difference in your world, in the name of Jesus, lovin’ on your neighbor can be a good place to start!
Isn’t that what Jesus told us in the Gospel of Matthew?
Lovin’ On Their Neighbor
This morning I saw a young mother leaving Mennonite Memorial Home with one of her four children. I stopped to watch them walk across the parking lot, amazed at how big the little girl had grown and wondering where the other three children were.
I knew why they were here. That mother, a professional social worker, had made a decision that she wanted to teach her children to enjoy and care about the elders of our communities and to instill in them the habit of sharing their time and love with others. (I’ve seen how our residents smile and laugh to watch her children play under the “parachute!”) Those four children and their mother are “lovin’ on their neighbor.”
Our Volunteers
Our Mobile Meals and Our Daily Bread drivers play a role far more important than handing out a hot meal to people confined to their homes. They may be giving a welcome break, however brief, in a long day of loneliness. They are also watch dogs.
Like the mailman, these volunteers might be the first ones to notice a serious problem for one of our meal recipients. These delivery volunteers are “lovin’ on their neighbor.” And we need more of them!
I want to thank the more than 400 people who have chosen to support the ministry of MHCO by giving of their time for such a wide range of small and big services. Each task is an act of “loving your neighbor.”
If you have not discovered MHCO or, literally, an older neighbor to be the recipient of your time, talent and love, I invite you to come join us. Or, without procrastinating, go next door with some hot soup! You will walk away blessed!