A favorite show in our house is Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. (Ok, so maybe it’s currently more MYfavorite than my boys’ favorite.) If you’ve never seen Daniel Tiger, it’s a cartoon spin off of the Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood series, where the series centers around Daniel Tiger (son of Mom Tiger and Dad Tiger). The series also features other children of the characters from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, such as Katerina Kittycat (daughter of Henrietta Pussycat), Miss Elaina (daughter of Lady Elaine Fairchilde and Music Man Stan), O the Owl (nephew of X the Owl), and Prince Wednesday (King Friday and Queen Sara Saturday’s youngest son and Prince Tuesday’s little brother). The segments are linked by a common socio-emotional theme, such as disappointment, anger, or being thankful and appreciative. The theme also uses “strategy songs”, to reinforce the theme and help children remember the life lessons*. One day in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe,  it’s “Neighbor Day”, where Daniel starts a chain reaction of acts of kindness by helping the other adults in the Neighborhood. The “theme” and song for that episode is “Do something nice for your neighbor. Do something nice for your friend. Do something nice for those you love.”

Although in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe the neighbors are all very good friends, Jesus tells us that EVERYONE is our neighbor. Not just the people that live near us or our close friends that we like to spend time with, but everyone. The people who are homeless. The people who may be a little weird. The people who no one else loves. We are called to be their neighbors.

When you search for bible verses about neighbors, you’ll find a bunch of different verses. John tells us “a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Paul tells us to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

We are called to love everyone, to help others with their burdens. When we do this, we are following what Jesus told us to do. Not just at Christmas time, or around the holidays, but all the time. When they are at their lowest, at their highest, or just having an average day. Make it your mission to do one good thing every day, whether you know the person or not. Ask God how He can use you. Go out and make every day neighbor day.

* info from Wikipedia