"Love Thy Neighbor"

It is Saturday the 29th and I thought this day would never come. It is a very special day because my neighbor has finally left the country.

In being brutally honest, when I first met my neighbor it was quite an overbearing experience. I seriously did not know how to perceive her but found out rather quickly that she was going to be very high maintenance. I actually cried the first 2 weeks I was here because I did not know how to tell her to slow down and back off.

I suddenly felt trapped in my new home. I just remember every time that I saw her she would always (without fail) tell me how tired I looked when I had just taken a shower, was dressed and felt great for that day. I ended up writing down how many times she said this to me. I had to stop after the 20th time. I finally told her that when she tells me how tired I look that I feel she is trying to tell me that I look like crap in a nice but round about way. she finally cut back on her rude tired remarks.

I found her lectures on how to raise my daughters without asking for her advice was getting under my skin and that you could not tell her anything because she knew everything. She seemed very closed minded and judgmental, a very selective listener and memory which made it almost impossible to have a normal conversation with her. She was rather controlling with not a humble bone in her body. Even though she was amazing at sharing and giving I felt she was just as selfish. It was very difficult for me to relate to her because the connection between us was so static that I finally realized that she just didn’t care! She just didn't care to relate to me or felt that she needed to. She had to always be different or do the opposite for her to feel important.

Luckily, I have a very strong and wonderful relationship with my Supreme being who I know is the Father of my spirit, and is all wise, and is all knowing, and is all powerful and as I turned to him for counsel of my situation with her, he always impressed me to not turn my back on her but to simply listen and to be a friend especially during this short period of time that I felt was like an eternity. (8 months)

I was just constantly wondering and trying to figure out why God had sent this woman to cross my path in life. I felt there must be a deeper reason with all these feelings that I mustered.

At first, I thought it was to pursue the interests that I have in Arts & other various talents that he has blessed me with (because she is an artist) but God whispered to me simply “No”.

Then I asked in thought “Is it to exercise my back bone and tell this Lady how I really feel about her?” and he again whispered gently to me “No”.

Of course it is always the 3^rd time that you try that there is some kind of clearance. It was more than clear to me it was too simple. How could I learn anything if I do not obey and submit myself to his counsel that has been written in stone for thousands of years? I could suddenly feel the heavens open and the arms of a loving Heavenly Father embrace me, who confirmed in my heart saying with such love, “Yes my child, You are to simply Love thy Neighbor as though loveth thyself”.

I have come to not only love my neighbor, but have opened my heart to her as a friend. I was able to finally look pass our differences and tried my very best to get along with her atleast the best that I knew how. There were times that it seemed impossible but this experience with her has drawn me to be closer to not only her as my neighbor but to my creator as well. Who, I feel in a sense has touched my hand by holding it in this whole process. It may at first felt like an eternity but time has it’s way of quickly scrolling down to an end. I have learned so much from her as a person of difference and I will never forget her as long as I live.

God has opened my eyes to see what he sees in her and that is greatness.

So all in all, surprisingly, I will miss her presence in my life and all that she had taught me. Life is all about progression and having her in my life has helped me to progress on so many different levels.

I wish for her to live her life to its fullest and find the truth that it possesses.

Love thy Neighbor!