By Emi Iwanaga

”Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love…Delightfully loved ones, if he loved us with such tremendous love, then ‘loving one another’ should be our way of life! No one has ever gazed upon the fullness of God’s splendor. But if we love one another, God makes his permanent home in us, and we make our permanent home in him, and his love is brought to its full expression in us.“

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬, ‭‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Call received.
The next door neighbor,
Her ring camera shows a package on the doorstep.
Sure, I’ll get, hold it until her return.

Favor granted.
Closing spoken.
Her words flow, 
Naturally, sincerely and with ease, “I love you”.
My attention captured, set back a bit,
Heart touched.

Conscious pricked.  
Our first meeting over 25 years ago,
Her son had died, she had a need, I had my intentions.
Life happened, I did nothing.
Action failed.

Conclusion reached.
Never a time spent together,
Yet, apparently my consistent prayers, greetings and respect.
Because of God, suffice.
Neighbors love.

Emi Iwanaga served thirteen years as a missionary in Amazon Valley in Brazil, over 20+ years as a children’s ministry director, women’s ministry director, and pastor’s wife, and is currently a spiritual director.