A Helpful Neighbor

Illustration from Once Upon A Neighborhood
by talented artist Anya Figert (my 12-year-old grandgirl)

Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31)

We're in the final edits of the manuscript and illustrations for Once Upon A Neighborhood, A Fort Payne, Alabama Story. 

Meet one of the helpful neighbors from my hometown in 1963:

In the summertime, folks around town paid no mind to the big-eyed, acorn-eating critters scampering through the woods and around the backyards, but in the fall, two squirrels would be the talk of the town. Every September, Mr. Houston, at Southern Hardware on Gault Avenue, decorated his store window in colorful leaves, bare branches, and two live squirrels. 

Mr. Houston was a kind man with three boys of his own. One Easter, when the “Easter bunny” brought Mark a beany-copter hat from Southern Hardware, the propeller was missing. Just one quick phone call sent the storekeeper hurrying back to his shop (even though it was Sunday and a holiday to boot). Mr. Houston found the missing piece and saved the day.

In the book of Ezra, King Cyrus sends a proclamation throughout his kingdom releasing Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel. "May God be with you!" he said. "Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey and livestock, as well as voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem." And their neighbors assisted them.

Beloved, be a helpful neighbor to someone today.