Back to the beginning....
The List
1. Fast for the 2 billion people who live on less than a dollar a day.
2. Contact your local crisis pregnancy center and invite a pregnant woman to live with your family.
3. Ask your pastor if someone on your church’s sick list would like a visit.
4. Join an open AA meeting and befriend someone there.
This Story Is Still Being Written
5. Adopt a child.
6. Mow your neighbor’s grass.
So, my next opportunity to make a difference is mowing my neighbor's lawn according to The List. One problem. There is not a single blade of grass anywhere in this neighborhood, city or state.....yet anyway. The weather is still too cold for any showing of the green. I can tell you this much. Bob has mowed the neighbors lawn in the past. It actually brought another neighbor out of his house, asking why. There's a long story but here is the condensed version. The lawn being mowed was owned by a less than nice person. The questioning neighbor along with a few others despised the less than nice neighbor. Seeing Bob mowing this guys lawn not only brought neighbors out of their homes, it got them talking. To each other. Kindly. Nicely played, Mr. Bob. You are a smart man. I think I want to kiss you when you get home. Yes, I believe I do.
Anyway, since we are a grassless state for the time being, we will be doing a substitute adventure. We are heading down to the Mission area tomorrow to clean. We'll take trashbags, gloves and camera. I will also be on the lookout for Nikki. Remember Nikki? Whatever happens, that will be my Sunday In My City post. So, check back then. Or better yet, wanna come with us tomorrow?
25 comments:
Quite a list of accomplishments. I have a lawn mowing story that was created by fate. Helping others gives in two directions.
MM ~ I want to hear the story. Do tell!!!!
Why do some folks think that I am "less than nice"?
I used to enjoy mowing other's yards for free. I also once had a yard that was the envy of the neighborhood. Put a lot of hard work into it. I had a temporary problem with moles, but never with Snipes...
I so appreciate you making a difference in other's lives. Can't wait to hear of your adventure.
have fun heading down there to clean...we have an elderly lady we cut the lawn for when needed. never knew her before we showed up at her door but she is like family now. always good to turn your eyes out...
the blog is THE place to be 'all about me' and we love to hear everything about you because you are a very interesting and inspiring person. you make me want to be a better me.
misery won't stay if it don't have company!
nicely said Marla - what is that tatoo all about? :)
I find the same dynamic with shoveling snow. I have better conversations with my neighbors after a good snowstorm than almost any other time.
I'll be back Sunday for sure. Hope Nikki is around while you're there. I just know you'd make a difference in her life.
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest! Great post. I'll be back to hear more...
there's no lawn here either, although the snow has mostly melted. hope someone is blessed by your willing heart. have a good weekend!
Yes I wanna come with you!! :) LOL I have some great stories about helping neighbours. Alwasy fun to do and it does something to your heart you cannot really explain! (Is its Gods joy maybe?)
Isn't it amazing how much effort it takes for us not to think about ourselves...we are all so narcissistic. I really appreciate the way Mother Theresa poured out her life on the streets of Calcutta. How freeing it must be to get to the point where it's no longer about your own comfort or happiness. I have to admit I'm not there yet, but I would like to be. Great blog and thanks for visiting mine!
You never cease to amaze me. You are a beautiful person with a tender soul. Such an inspiration!
So sweet of you all! And it's amazing what a little conversation in the neighborhood can do!
Kate
PS- and I know, all those shoes I have are super tiny. I think people must have had smaller feet 50 years ago! I so wish I could wear some of them!
Living in the State of Me always leads to misery. Thank you for this great post for me to read on a Saturday morning.
You go! I love being inspired by you! You wanna know something funny? Our retired neighbor -& good friend- loves to snow blow our driveway & i have a young healthy huband with a monster snow blower! But our neighbor likes to do it for the exercise! We are VERY spoiled :) & we do help him in other ways but I always feel so bad when he is out there!
Marla, You (and Bob) are amazing. Really, you are and so inspiring! Keep sharing. You are growing so much.
Since I'm newer to your blog, this post and your links to older posts now make much more sense to me. Thank you.
You have a very kind and generous weekly goal. I take my hat off to you.
I'll be back Sunday to see your pics.
have fun,
jj
Hey there, stopping by from SITS! Gonna stay a bit and look around!! Hope you're having a great weekend!
Thanks for the "State of Me". My state of me is Ohio, Me, Me, Me. Even when I thing I'm doing for others in my small ways, is it really about Me? Must take a step back, way back! Will be back to find out abou Nikki.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love the list, I have been a recipient of acts of compassion and I always pass them on! Love the invite a pregnant women in your home, might I say, invite a pregnant teen, I was one myself..
Prudence
And here I've just been peeing on my neighbors lawn and wondering why no one likes me.
Blasé ~ I don't believe it, Mr. Always Stirring The Pot.
You probably had no snipe issues because they have been hunted to near extinction.
Parsley ~ They are making a difference in my life.
Brian ~ Awesome! Way to model love your neighbor to your children.
Sarah ~ What a nice thing to say. Thank you.
marci-me ~ It was a henna tattoo meaning courage.
Nancy ~ That is so neat. I love hearing that.
Ok Granny ~ As soon as Miranda is over her crud, we are heading downtown. She's pretty excited about it.
Vee ~ Thanks for coming by!
Shelle ~ I am the one that ends up blessed every time.
Amarja ~ We need to do something together. God's joy? I think it could be.
Sunny ~ I loved Mother Theresa so much. I have books and videos on her life. What an amazing woman. Visiting the sisters in Calcutta has been on my bucket list for 20 years now. Some day....
Rae ~ Takes one to know one. :-D
Kate ~ Isn't communication amazing?
Enchanted ~ Thanks for reading it!
Libbie ~ Don't feel bad, girlfriend. Accepting the gift of help blesses the giver too.
JP ~ I hope we are growing. I surely do.
JJ ~ Thanks for reading!!
thehusaileybunch ~ Thanks for coming by!!
Alma ~ Isn't that so true?
Prudence ~ That is so much in my heart, to take in pregnant teens. I am seriously praying about how to go about it.
Mami ~ There you go, marking
your territory again.
All wonderful ideas. The world really needs a little more kindness in it.
We can also offer to pick our neighbor's fruit trees. :) Or, collect our neighbor's plastic caps and lids if curbside recycle doesn't accept them. OK, that's my idea-promoting plug. Happy Day to you.
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