A Man of Understanding

Not long after we moved into our house, our neighbor died. I never met him. He had been sick for quite a while and did not get out much. His daughter and her husband lived with him and took care of his place.

After he died, his other daughter moved in with her husband and they began to remodel the house. It was quite run down and as they began the work they found it needed more work than they had originally thought. Also as they began working, they decided to add on. They added an extra room out to one side and another addition to the top of the house. The husband did all the work himself and I got used to hearing the melodious sound of his hammer early each morning and late each night. Because he has a full time job, he was not able to work on it except mornings, evenings and weekends and the project drug on and on. It was an eyesore.

For almost two years the roof top addition remained unfinished. He would put down tar paper, the wind would blow and I would have a yard full of tar paper. He would put up more, the wind would blow and I would have to clean up again. I talked to him about it, asking him to at least pick up what the wind blew into my yard, which he did most of the time.

He finally finished his roof. Then he began siding the house. He put the wrap around the house, then the wind would blow and I would end up with a yard full of plastic. He would put more wrap up, the wind would blow and I would have a yard full of paper again.

All together, this went on for a full four or five years. Every time I would have someone over they would comment about my neighbors project and I would always add a critical comment or two.

Six months ago I began putting insulation in the ceiling above my garage. It is a bout a two day project, but I've been so busy. I also have a garage full of windows I will be installing after I finish my insulation project. After the windows are done I will begin siding my house. As I'm trying to get everything scheduled and done with my busy schedule, I'm beginning to have more compassion for my neighbor.

This morning I was reading through Proverbs 11 and I came across this passage. "Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent."

I'm learning to keep my mouth shut!