During the month of September, GSSA Headquarters encourages its GSS Agents to conduct secret missions to help their NEIGHBORS. Neighbors are defined broadly here as individuals, families or businesses that live or operate near or next to each other in the same community/neighborhood, apartment building, or commercial complex.
In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus tells us to:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind,
and all your strength. The second is equally important:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
No other commandment is greater than these."
Jesus is basically saying that loving our neighbors, which includes doing kind deeds for them, is just as important as loving God. That’s pretty significant! So, GSS Agents, this month we encourage you to demonstrate your love for your neighbor and honor the heart of our Savior by secretly or openly doing something kind for someone living or working in your neighborhood.
When I lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, I was the Chairperson of our neighborhood Welcoming Committee. I enjoyed ordering or making baskets and goodies and delivering them to new families moving into our neighborhood. It gave me the opportunity to get to know my neighbors and help to connect them with other neighbors and resources available in our area to help smooth their transition to our community. Our neighbors were quick to help each other and, participated together in a variety of activities such as, social get-to-gathers and event, school carpools, baby and pet-sitting, meal drop off for sick neighbors and other reciprocal acts of kindness that helped to build lasting friendships and a strong sense of community.
Sadly, many people don’t make the effort to get to know their neighbors. We encourage you to get out of your comfort zone this month and reach out and touch one of your neighbors with a secret act of kindness:
Below are a few secret missions you can do to connect with a neighbor:
Slip a note of encouragement in your neighbor’s mailbox or front door
Clean your neighbor’s yard while they are away
Pick up a neighbor’s paper from the driveway for a week and move it closer to their front door.
Order dinner and have it delivered to your neighbor’s house.
Encourage friends and neighbors to patronize a struggling neighborhood business.
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