Before we ever bought this house, I began to pray for the neighborhood.  I wasn't sure where we would eventually buy a house, but I did know I wanted it to be place where

• we could show the love of Christ to our neighbors
• where my kids could be safe
• where we would all have friends

Then we found our house and were so happy.

But after a while I began to notice and then focus on the fact that there were no kids living around us, and that maybe what I really wanted was land for our kids to roam and ride atv's, and neighborhoods like the ones near us where the neighbors did everything together and were such close friends.

When my thoughts began to be all about ME, things got increasingly more negative.  All I could see were the newer houses a few streets away, the laughing/vacationing/golfing neighbors in the next sub, and all the people we knew who had land - spacious, spacious land - not a confining, fenced-in yard.



And I began to pester Checkered.  This couldn't be the right house.

And I began to pester God.  What about the things that I prayed about before we ever bought this house?

And when I couldn't stand the feeling of unrest in my heart, and when I realized that I was putting pressure on Checkered, and when my kids began to parrot my negative comments, I knew I needed to change.

I began to focus on scriptures about being thankful.  Who knew there were so many verses admonishing us to be thankful for all we have?  With each verse, I began to look at what the Lord had provided for us.

Slowly, over the span of a couple of years, something very nice began to happen.

My neighborhood and my house underwent a transformation. 

Here's what I began to see: In my neighborhood there is very little competition among neighbors.  No one is interested in keeping up with those proverbial Joneses.  But we all work on our homes and yards for us - no one else.  In our quiet neighborhood are lots of people who have already raised their families and who like having our four younger kids around.  These neighbors know my kids' names.  They pay attention to my children.  These neighbors never give advice unless asked.  They show tolerance when things get a little loud and crazy in my yard.  And best yet, they've simply "been there" with us when life has been great and when it hasn't.

And over the years, there have been ample times to discuss our faith with each other.  True, genuine talks about who we are and where we are going.  Sometimes, as night settles around us, and the mosquitoes take ownership of us, we still stand at the fence and get to know each other a little better.  It is perfect.

I have a wonderful neighborhood.  A place just right for my children to grow up.  And instead of wide open spaces, I have fences all around.  So if you are ever looking for me, check out that fence line. 

And one more bonus?

When my garden looks like this:


I simply look across the fence and see my neighbor's garden, which looks like this:




I do think Frost had it right about fences making good neighbors.  And the Lord had it right about a thankful heart.