LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS



Brad Summersill and Brian Walker

There are times in our lives when the command to "love your neighbor" is a difficult task. And there are other times when you wouldn't hesitate to show love to them. Today I am experiencing the latter by the grace of God.

On New Year's Eve our neighbor's 22 year old son, Brian Walker and his friend were killed in a car accident. We went to the funeral today, and it was difficult. We listened to the stories told by friends and family with tear-filled laughter; we watched slide after slide of pictures captured in time of his life here on earth; we witnessed God provide strength to his only brother to stand and share from his heart; and we were in awe of the power God provided to his grieving parents to comfort the rest of us.

It was a day where loving my neighbor was easy. As I worked in the kitchen making sure the food was supplied and the hot drinks were ready I heard relatives comforting each other in their loss. I heard neighbors recounting memories of what Brian meant to them. I watched the family dog wander around wondering why more than 100 people were over for lunch.

Tonight we grieve with those who grieve. May God comfort them in their loss and help us to love them - not because they're our neighbors, but because we've become friends.