by Stephanie Epplett

Created on: August 20, 2009   Last Updated: September 01, 2009

The bible verse, Love your neighbor as yourself, means simply to love all of the people around you and treat them as you would treat yourself. It does not specifically refer to your actual neighbor, but to all those that live in your community and exist in your life.

Love your neighbor as yourself, asks us to be responsible in our actions. We do not throw our fast food wrappers from our car into our yard and clutter it with trash and junk? After all what would the neighbors think of us if our yards resembled a land fill? Therefore we need to be responsible for our stuff and actions and find the appropriate containers for the waste, containers that do not include our neighbor's beautifully manicured lawn or along the shoulder of the highway.

Love your neighbor as yourself, demands we be considerate of others thoughts, feelings and privacy. It is safe to say we would not write a column in the local paper inviting everyone into our business and pain, so we should not do that to others. If a friend, co-worker or loved one confides something personal to you, let it remain with you. If you witness your neighbor having an argument with their spouse, walk away discretely and pray for them alone, do not call your other neighbor and let them know what you have witnessed, you would not want them to do it to you, would you? If you accidentally bump into someone at the grocery store, causing them to spill the contents of their basket, apologize and help them right themselves and pick up what has spilled. You would appreciate them doing the same for you.

Love your neighbor as yourself, calls for us all to be empathetic, sensitive and understanding. Before you act in any way with another person, think first how you would feel if you are in that person's shoes. If you feel you must confront another person for a hurt or a wrong doing, do so with empathy and sensitivity, though they may have hurt you, you will not feel better striking back at them. Rather think first how you would have preferred to be treated by another and treat that person with more understanding and respect.

Love your neighbor as yourself, demands acceptance of all. When you walk through the mall, refrain from judging the harried young mother whose child has on a dirty t-shirt and whose hair looks like it has not been brushed in a week, rather smile and love her for the effort she is making everyday to be the best mother she can. God will not judge her by her child's clothes or hair, but rather by her love for her young child. Next time you see that angry, scary young teen in black, do not glare at them or turn your face away, rather smile with all the warmth that is yours, you do not know how much that smile may mean to a terrified teen whose only defense against an unknown threat is intimidation.

Love your neighbor as yourself, calls for a consciousness of treating others with respect, dignity and love, for that is how we treat ourselves, and if we don't treat ourselves with dignity, respect and love, then we should look at our treatment of our neighbors for strength in treating ourselves better and ultimately treating our neighbors better.

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