Open and Honest

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 "Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 15:2

I wonder what Paul meant “please our neighbors for their good?” Sometimes, I have found, the “their good’ is not always pleasing to another person. As a grandparent building up a grandchild does mean holding them accountable and making sure, they know why we do things and why we do not do other things. Many times, this is not pleasing them, but it is important that we, in loving kindness please our neighbors by being honest and open with them. Yesterday, Fergus helped me hang Christmas lights in the back yard. He wanted to surprise his autistic sister who loves lights. In stringing lights there were many lessons on why we do and don’t do certain things. At one point, he yells to Opa (who was putting tarps on items) “Opa, hurry, Oma needs help, it’s not working out.” We needed the extension cord to turn the lights on. Today, on this snowy winter wonderland sort of day, remember to help your neighbor, be kind to those on the roads, and enjoy each other with honest and open communication on the path…


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