September 28th of every year is National Neighbor Day! Yay!
President Jimmy Carter first proclaimed this annual holiday in 1978. The idea was to raise public awareness that good neighbors help achieve human understanding and build strong, thriving communities. I love that it gives us a chance to pause and focus on other people besides ourselves.
We frequently talk to our kids about two things: loving God and loving people.
Jesus said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:36-40)
On National Neighbor Day, it’s a good day to take a time out and do just that. For the past several years we have taken our little red wagon out with bags of chips which we leave on our neighbors’ doorsteps with a note saying, “You are all that and a bag chips! Happy Neighbor Day!”
Dropping off a bag of chips at a door like it’s May Day is a little thing, but teaching my kids to take time out and think about others… that’s a life lesson I desperately want them to learn.
This year, consider celebrating National Neighbor Day with your family. Here are ten simple ideas you can do for those around you.
1. Leave a bag of chips on doorsteps. I mean, who doesn’t want to come home to a bag of Doritos. You can get a free printable here saying, “You’re all that and a Bag of Chips.” We modified ours also to say, “Happy Neighbor Day! From the Cheatham’s.”
2. Set up a lemonade stand and serve free lemonade. Use a sharpie to write “Happy Neighbor Day!” on the cups.
3. Pick up sticks or trash from around your neighborhood.
4. Invite people over for impromptu s’ mores.
5. Place a pumpkin with a ribbon around the stem on neighbors’ doorsteps.
6. Have an old fashioned pot luck. Set up picnic tables on your front yard and have people come on over!
7. Pray for each neighbor as a family.
8. Write an encouraging message with sidewalk chalk on your neighbors’ driveway.
9. Call or text your neighbors to let them know how thankful you are for them; better yet, write them a note!
10. Take time to stop by your neighbors’ homes and personally invite them to church.
The possibilities are endless! Just take a moment and love on someone around you. It will make you and your neighbors’ day. Happy celebrating!
HLLF- Melissa
