The Joy of Neighbors

I returned to Nashville from Chicago last night. It had been such a draining trip - seeing old friends who have become family by choice, burying a dear friend, facing my own mortality.
I sunk in the seat on the airplane as it taxied on the runway. Oh, but every bone in my body pounded, and every vein in my heart ached.
As soon as the big bird in the sky went up it felt as though it was descending to my destination. It was good to be back home, but so much had transpired in this one emotional weekend.
Oh God! Please take away this hurt and replace it with love.
My friend, Lesa, picked me up from the airport. With her keen counseling background Lesa listened, gave me love, and then prodded me to move through each part of grief, without getting stuck.
When we drove into my driveway, even in the dark, I could see my flowers smiling at me. Oh, I have such a happy yard and it was there to embrace me. God's gifts...
Then I noticed that my lawn was freshly mowed as I heard the neighbor's front door squeak open. Pat walked out and gently sent out a 'Welcone Home'. I thanked him as tears welled up in my eyes, and then I thanked him for mowing my lawn. He said that Bridget, his perky 13-year-old daughter watered my flowers every night and he mowed the lawn. He told me that he buried a friend at one time and he knows the pain.
Lesa reiterated her thank you's for mowing the lawn and taking care of my happy yard.
"That's what neighbors are for. That's what neighbors do", Pat said, as though it was an unspoken pact when you lived next door to someone that you just helped them out when they were in need.
Lesa, neighbors, flowers...God was busy replacing the hurt with love. I just have to open my eyes and see...