#6: Call

Love Your Neighbor Challenge

In 1949, Hank Williams, Sr. wrote a song called I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. When this song first hit the airwaves, less than 10 percent of homes contained only one person. But today? On your street? One in four of the homes on your street is occupied by one person living alone. Of course, being alone is not the same as loneliness… but throw in a pandemic and some lockdowns, and loneliness is on the rise on your block and around the world.  

That’s why your next Love Your Neighbor Challenge is to call a neighbor who lives alone.

Perhaps he’s an elderly widower whose nights are long. Perhaps she’s a single executive who works long hours. Perhaps she enjoys her solitude… and perhaps she needs a friend.

This is the brilliance of Christ’s #2 Command to love our neighbor. If each one loves one, we can end the pandemic of loneliness that is literally killing us. Lonely people:

  • Are more likely to be obese and less likely to exercise. 
  • Are more likely to experience memory loss, dementia, inflammation, depression, sleep disorders, and heart conditions.
  • Are less likely to survive surgery.
  • Have increased levels of stress hormones.
  • Have a shorter life expectancy.

You hold the cure in the palm of your hand. 

Here are some simple conversation starters –

  • “I just called to say hello.”
  • “I haven’t seen you for a while and wondered how you’re doing.”
  • “I really enjoy talking to you. What have you been up to?”
  • “How are you feeling?”
  • “Do you enjoy the hot/cold/sunny/wet weather we’ve been having?”
  • “I’m going to the store, what can I pick up for you?”
  • “My kids are bringing you over a treat.”
  • “Are you ready for the upcoming [storm, holiday, season, event, etc.]?”
  • “How can we help you today?” 

Instead of vague questions, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly in Chicago recommends you ask specific questions during extremely cold weather:

 

  • “Is your heat working?”
  • “Are you warm enough?”
  • “Do you have enough food to get through the next few days?”
  • “Are you dressing in layers?

FAQ

Can I send a text?

Nope. Make the call.

How long will this take?

About 5 minutes. 

What's in it for me?

Heavenly reward and earthly relationships.

One phone call. Five minutes. You can do that. Yes?

Elvis called this the saddest song he’d ever heard. What do you think?

 

Follow the Love Your Neighbor Challenge on Facebook or Instagram! 

If these tips and tools have given you a new idea, if you’ve met a new neighbor or thought about your neighbors in a different way, would you please let me know?

Contact me or message me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to hear your stories!

#1: Pray

#1: Pray

Of course, the first Love Your Neighbor Challenge begins with prayer - in fact, we couldn't call...

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2 Comments

  1. Owlie

    I do not have any phone numbers of my current neighbors so this task is impossible right now.

    Reply
    • Amy Lively

      That does make it difficult! I am praying that God will open doors (and phone lines!) so you can get to know the neighbors he has placed around you. You might want to check out this post with tools to learn who your neighbors are: https://www.amylively.com/challenge-map/

      Reply

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