Love - It will not be contained
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We’ve all seen them. They’re out
in winter decorating with evergreens and twinkling lights; in spring with
flowers and mulch; in fall with pumpkins and hay bales. I’m not talking about
business owners or school teachers, although we’ve seen them too. I’m talking
about residents of neighborhoods who regularly gather supplies and helping
hands to make their community entrance a beautiful and inviting place. Building
scarecrows and flower beds builds a lot more than just seasonal décor. It
builds community, plants residents’ roots, nurtures residents’ relationships
and shows the world that they love their place in the sun.
Imagine that you are driving with
your Realtor and you see a community where this activity is taking place. You
immediately feel their love for this community. You think how easy it would be
to meet people who are doing things that anyone can do – no skills
required. You think how nice it would be
to drive in after a long, stressful day and look at the blooming flowers or
twinkling lights. Those flowers or lights will bring a smile to your face that
you can’t help but share with your spouse and children as you walk through the door.
The love overflows. You want to buy a home in a community where people work
together and show they care. You want to live where love abounds.
Now imagine that you are still
driving with your Realtor looking for a home and you see someone throw a cup
out their car window onto the community entrance median. You continue driving
and see a resident mowing their lawn and blowing the clippings down the storm
drain. You see people walking their dogs and using their neighbor’s lawn as a
toilet without picking up. You see people speeding through stop signs, cutting
corners on two wheels and jumping into intersections without a care for right
of way or courtesy. You say, “Get me out of here; I want to live where people
are at peace – not badgered”.
Even in this new age of fee-based
neighborhoods with professional landscape services, there are still things that
residents can do to create and nurture a love for their community. Here are
some ideas borrowed from the organization known for sharing love through helping
hands – the Girl Scouts: Leave a place cleaner than you found it. Organize a
resident’s car wash and donate the proceeds to the food bank. Host a block
party and have everyone bring school supplies for needy children. Gather neighbors
and landscaping supplies to improve the yard of someone unable to do it for
themselves. Helping hands spread love around your neighborhood. Love – it will
not be contained – it overflows and reaches those who need it the most.