Neighbors And Friends

Neighbors and Friends

I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them.

The winter days are short, but the deeply cold months can feel endless in Minnesota. By the time the snow disappears and the icicles fall off the eaves, our three daughters are more than ready to escape outside to enjoy the sun and warmer temperatures. To accomplish that goal, it’s become a tradition for us in the past few years to create a summer bucket list—including a mix of at-home activities and day trips for new adventures. My children love the days when we eat breakfast in bed or have ice cream for dinner, as well as our trips to the biggest candy store in the state and to the park in Stillwater dotted with giant teddy bears.

Although we enjoy the out-of-the-ordinary pace of the activities and outings, our underlying focus is on relationships. While I love to experience adventures with my kids and spend time together as a family, I believe it’s equally important to teach my children the value of prioritizing people over things. So, interspersed among “favorite foods day,” family water balloon fights, and visits to art fairs are friend-focused activities. Some of these are more elaborate, like our neighborhood movie night (our cul-de-sac sets up an inflatable screen, and neighbors bring lawn chairs and snacks to share) or our grilling contests, where my husband pits his steak and ribs against the skills and flavors of his friends. Even when the adventure isn’t expressly about friends, it’s always more fun to include others. A scavenger hunt or a game of life-size Chutes and Ladders drawn in chalk on the driveway are more interesting when the neighbor kids join in, and a visit to a new park is better when we bring along friends to chat and play with on the playground.

The Bible reminds us of the importance of incorporating fun into our lives. There’s nothing wrong with interspersing our hard work with experiences that help us appreciate both the toil and the joy of this life. When we use those adventures to foster friendship, we’re twice as blessed.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Come up with a list of fun ways for you or your family to include others in your lives, like hosting a bonfire, potluck, or movie night.