18 years ago, we had neighbors move in their new home opposite mine. A family of 3 – mother father and a 9 year old daughter. While I had other neighours, this family moved across the street and was the first human contact to as we woke up everyday. Soon enough, my mom let me in on the secret with a huge smile, that they were expecting their second child, and all she could say was “I hope they have a cuddly chubby baby we get to play with”.. I being the younger sibling, had zero experience with babies and wasn’t sure what to expect as my high school exams were approaching but nevertheless was excited !
On a mid November morning, I woke up to the news of my neighbor having delivered a baby girl at the hospital and everyone rushed to visit and help as her husband was working overseas at that time! I however, did not pay much attention, to my 15year old self exams mattered! Soon, the baby was home and my mom barely left her side. She was the cutest chubbiest baby I knew. The entire neighborhood cam along to visit or play with her.
But the sweetest suprise to me was my dad! My father is a man of extremely few words and emotions.. he would just listen and nod to others and never say much including to my new neighbors but this new little baby stole his heart. My father would keep an eye on her every day and take her for a stroll along the area every evening while talking to her like long lost buddies (she was 9 months by then). She eventually learned to walk holding his finger, dance to his home made tunes and even called out his name with the sweetest voice… and soon they were inseparable…
Everyday, she would wake up and walk across the street to our gate and barge in to take her place for breakfast, while mom made a kiddie special meal for her, she sat on my dads chair with the news paper in her hand imitating him read it and by noon was set to give him company for lunch. The same continued for dinner, soon she was a part of our family at every meal and she was a guest at every family event… sometimes self invited!
She was so well behaved (and still is) and was a regular to our home for all meals and snacks.. ! Dad kept tabs on her school exams and even her grades . He even convinced her to participate in a singing competition and made my mom train her, he taught her Portuguese and funny songs. He would take her along at every trip he had either to the market or our ancestral house and even refused to believe me when I claimed she was torturing our cat (which she was!!!!).
This was a love story of another kind! A 60 year old man and a 2 year old baby girl danced alone on the floor of his birthday to no music! His eyes light up when we mention her name and she blushes when she hears his car drive in. I was always amazed how much they loved each other… they could barely understand each other… It was pure love, and 18 years later nothing has changed , food sneaks its way from the kitchen to her plate. There is always her share in every special meal cooked! She is like a little sister I never had ! She in turn absolutely loves my parents and gave a handmade card for my mothers birthday with “worlds best neighbor” drawn in colors!
You shall love your neighbor as yourself
Loving God is hard but loving the human beside me takes immense courage. The human is not my family or a friend nor supports the political party I want nor does the human love sports as much as me. Yet! I have to love the human. While my parents fell in love with this sweet child across the street and vice versa, beyond barriers of age or understanding, I learnt a lesson of loving for life. From being absolutely honest and innocent like a child to being generous and non judgemental, like my dad, in any human relationship is what helps us to forge new human relationships and work upon the old.
Every one reading this reflection, is a committed follower of the first commandment and hence visits this site,
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
Let us use a part of this love for our Lord and infuse it in our relationships, at home with family or neighborhood or via virtual platforms. In the times of the pandemic, when we miss the human touch and closeness the most, let us make an effort to show our love to the neighbor just as we show the Lord.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your commandments of life. Help me to follow them wit grace and be a source of your love to every living being I encounter. Let me live my faith through my words and deeds and put your orders into action in my life.
AMEN.
