“Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Mark 12:31

Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few hours visiting with my new neighbors. I had heard so much about them but, because of my sickness, I hadn’t been able to go sooner. They welcomed me in with big smiles and warm handshakes. I was quickly seated and given something refreshing to drink: five star hospitality!

Their apartment wasn’t much to look at. There was the basic furniture of a table and chairs, a futon, and a tv, but was almost empty – no pictures, no plants, no candles. Their clothes were also plain and somewhat mismatched. They didn’t seem discontent and in fact, they appeared quite happy. They were excited to finally have their own place, to get to this place, and to be in France.

You see, my new neighbors are refugees.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Through the mix of broken English, very little French and some Arabic thrown in, I began to listen past their words and hear their hearts. Their smiles turned to tears as they took turns sharing their three year journey. As I listened to their story unfold, I sat there dumbfounded.

People were killing people.

They had received too many death threats.

Their family was torn apart.

Next came the pictures…old photos of brothers and sisters; his father posing in front of their former house, their wedding, a nephew being born. And then there were their children. I can think of nothing more frightening than fleeing for your life with precious little lives that you are trying to care for and protect.

Two of the boys speak bits of a plethora of languages – just enough to have been able to play with other children in the refugee camps where they were growing up in Turkey and Greece. The youngest boy, born in a Turkish refugee camp is almost three, but doesn’t yet speak. He communicates with grunts and motions.  It’s too early to know if he’ll need speech therapy. He may just need time – time to stay in one place.

My heart ached for them and yet, I could in no way feel the depth of pain and loss that they had gone through. I quickly realized that I do not know this kind of suffering.

Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

But what does that mean?

Loving others is to treat and care for them just as I treat and care for myself.

Loving who God loves.  

Jesus was all about the practical. In Matthew 25, He tells us that when we care for our fellow man in need, we are not only obeying God’s commands, but we are, in turn, showing our commitment and care for God. Just as I freely clothe, feed, provide shelter and tend to my health and to the well being of my family, so I am to equally care for others.

So, this got me asking what if every believer in Jesus reached out to just one refugee family by showing the love of Christ? What could happen? We live in fear about the radicalization and brainwashing of refugees, but are we proactively fighting it? The love of Jesus is the antidote to hate. His love is the answer and we are His messengers.

What can we do for our neighbors today? Go visit. Drop by with some groceries. Give an English lesson. Help with errands. Babysit. Offer our “service of expertise” free of charge whether we are hairdressers, nutritionists, dentists, teachers, mechanics, or doctors. Maybe we are just good at being a friend.

Take a moment and put yourself, your family, in their shoes. What would you need help with if you landed in a foreign country with no familiar faces to help, no language or cultural orientation, and no possessions?

All of these actions have one thing in common…TIME. Yep, it takes time. We can’t get around it. But let’s learn from the life of Jesus, who gave up His time, His resources, and His life for us needy ones.

In Acts 35:20, the Apostle Paul reminds us of Jesus’ words and that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”