It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day… oh wait, what was I trying to do? That’s right, my book review.
I am excited to have been a part of the launch team for Amy Lively’s How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird! Now, this does mean that I received a copy of her book for free, but I am not receiving anything else. That means if you go out and buy her book I am not gaining from it (unless you use the amazon link to buy it and then I will get a small percentage); therefore, I am giving you my honest opinion.
I was excited when I first learned about the concept of her book, obeying God’s command to love, but when I started to look through it… I got scared! This book is teaching you how to go out and actually love your neighbor.
I have lived in the same house in the country for almost 12 years and yesterday I noticed that a package from Amazon was left on my doorstep, but it was meant for my neighbor. His house is two doors down and I can see the house from my window in the winter when the leaves have fallen off the trees. I had never met the men and had no idea what he looked like.
And, I’m sad to say there are many other neighbors that I have never met and wouldn’t be able to pick them up out of a lineup. We wave at each other in our yards as we drive by and that is where it ends.
Last September our big tree in our front yard came down in a huge storm. We had an open house scheduled for two days later and a giant tree that was blocking our driveway. We got up early the next morning to start working on clearing and guess what we found. There were neighbors out everywhere, clearing their yards, lending a hand, and checking on each other.
Something about that day made me want to have neighbors that we know, neighbors that we could call on if we needed, but how do we get to that point after years of not even knowing their names?
That is where Amy Lively’s book comes into play. Here are some of my favorite things about the book:
- It is easy to read. You know those books that take forever to get through because you have to stumble through the words and it trips you up? This is not one of those books. It flows nicely and reads like you are having a conversation with a friend.
- It is honest. Amy is honest about what excuses she used to avoid obeying this God-given command and her fears when stepping out in this area. She even addresses loving “those” neighbors, you know the ones. It is encouraging to see that I am not the only one who feels so extremely uncomfortable in knocking on my neighbors’ door.
- It give practical steps at the end of each chapter. There are so many good books that we can read, but if we don’t apply them it doesn’t make a difference. This book makes it easy by giving you simple things to think through and steps to take all throughout the book.
- It is geared for every woman, not just a certain personality type. It doesn’t matter if you are shy or outgoing; a sports fanatic or a bookworm; this book is for you.
- It very simply addresses the command to “love your neighbor” as said in the Bible. Amy talks about the fact that so many people use “loving their neighbor” as feeding children in far off countries and digging wells or donating clothes to a shelter, but not often do we take the step to practically love those who live on our block, down the road, or right next door.
So, while it is going to be uncomfortable and there are a million things I would rather do, I am going to get intentional about loving my neighbor and throw a few prayers up that I won’t be weird while doing it! Check out more on Amy Lively and her book at her website www.howtoloveyourneighbor.com.
How do you do on loving your neighbors? Are you like me and know of them instead of knowing them? Or, have you mastered this command?
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