“Happy Community” from my “Happy Little Homes” collection
I waved goodbye to Marianne as she got on the bus this morning, and then took our dog Ferb on a walk up the street. At the top of the street lives a little boy who attends special education preschool and has a special bus come, just for him each day. I’ve seen it waiting at his house before, sometimes for a while before he’s ready.
Today as I walked past and saw the bus waiting, I saw the mom come out, carrying her son. The bus driver was out of the bus and met her on the walkway, and then took the little boy from her arms into his own. The boy rested his head on the bus driver’s shoulder as the man held him protectively and greeted him warmly.
It was one of those perfect little moments.
A bus driver who wasn’t just a bus driver.
A little boy with special needs being greeted with love and patience.
A patient bus driver who waits every day until the boy is ready to go.
A mom being supported generously by someone integral in her community.
Community is such an important part of home-life.
At one level, community is your neighbors – the people who live closest to you. You see them bring out the trash in their robes, check their mail in their slippers, yell at their kids to get out of the road, pull weeds in the front yard, unload their van after a long trip, greet maintenance workers, and so much more. You see a part of each others lives that coworkers and friends who live farther away don’t see.
Other communities form with coworkers, families whose kids attend the same schools, and church congregations, to name a few.
One definition of community is “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” Fellowship just means a “friendly association.”
So a group of geographically bound people only become a community when they are friendly to one another. The same for people who attend the same church or parents of kids who go to the same school. They are only that, UNLESS they seek out and nurture friendships.
“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” -Marianne Williamson
My neighbors have become a special community to me as they’ve patiently loved on my kids, noticed our efforts in maintaining our home and yard, given my kids work to do, celebrated milestones with us, watched out for us, and responded in times of need. In their love for us, they have made our home a happier place to be.
I am so grateful for these good, wise-hearted people!
What community in your life is special to you?
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