Community

My little’s (grands) have a Peppa Pig community adorning the floor of the sunroom where I spend the majority of my time and the one they gather to play in when visiting grandma and papa!

As I was praying and quietly listening this morning for what message the Lord would inspire me to write; I was gazing in an early morning fog at the action going on in my Peppa Village. Who’s village! 😂

There are parks with merry-go-rounds and swings. There’s a school in which Peppa is having a birthday party. There is an aquarium and a Ferris wheel for your outing enjoyment. We find Mommy and Daddy Pig standing at the bottom of a hill as George and Peppa are racing down to them on their Christmas sleds. On the next hill over you will find George and Bluey getting ready to skateboard down; the nurse is waiting at the doctor’s office which can be found down the road and around the curve!

Peppa World is a happy place to be, it’s bright and colorful and everyone seems to be enjoying each other and their day!

The inspiration arrives:

My thoughts traveled back to my grandparents and being at their house as a kid. They lived in a neighborhood and a time where everyone knew each other, were friends and shared a sense of community.

I grew up in a small town and raised my three children in the same. Everyone knew who you were, your parents, grandparents and so on! Sometimes that wasn’t such a good thing but there was always a sense of community and belonging.

Friends you’ve had your whole life! Adult friends who became instant family and always will be! Your community is the world you’ve built around you. The people and places God has blessed you with.

God has much to say about community and being a part of something other than yourself.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

We are to meet, to share, and to encourage. The world is hurting. The world is expensive. The world is cold and lonely. We are to be and share the warmth and light that Jesus brings to our lives. To share the message of love, redemption, and hope.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

This scripture isn’t meant to alarm the single person, the widowed or the divorced. Being alone in one’s home and lifestyle isn’t the same as being alone! Again, we need a community, a church, a club, an organization, a community outreach, volunteering! God wants us around others who we can help and who can help us share loads.

Things like: Taking a single mom’s little ones for an hour or two! Offering a ride to the store, doctor, or an event to someone who is housebound. A home-cooked plate for the single guy next door who eats TV dinners. Taking turns picking up kids from school relieves the daily burdens and each mom on her day does not have to sit in the pickup line freeing her for a moment to herself! A freebie hour Mom, take it. Simple acts go a long way!

Galatians 6:2 ESV: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

The word burden comes from the Greek word baros which means weight. When you put those together, to bear a burden means to take away or carry off the weight someone else is experiencing. In essence, you are bringing some form of relief and comfort to someone else’s challenging situation. Crosswalk.com

A phone call with a listening ear, a hug, a shoulder, a surprise cheerful card sent in the mail. A simple smile to one who looks a bit sad or beat down!

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV: “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

With what we put out, with what we give of ourselves we are setting in motion to receive the same back! Be a blessing to someone today!; it’ll do you good! 😊