Not too long ago, my friends got together to celebrate the birthdays of one of the parents from our old neighborhood. I was so excited. I had this expectation of what the event was going to be like even before I got there. And every time a new person came into the room, we celebrated like it was the first time. Most of my friends have children of their own now, and it was amazing to see how much they all resemble their parents. The funny thing was, they didn’t want to be around us any more than we wanted to be around our parents back in the day. We thought we would be so different when we had children, and here we were…being our parents. Hilarious.

In our old neighborhood, our families were always close. There were probably five families in our circle, and when I think back as far as my mind will allow, they were there. Our parents went through some tough times together, and when we were young, they all looked out for us. That’s how it was back then. Many of us grew up and left the area, but there are still a handful of people left in the old neighborhood. So, it was great to get together and just reminisce about old times. 

And here’s the thing, I never thought I would look back and be glad about those days. I always thought my mother had lost her mind most of the time. Actually, she probably had, because my siblings and I probably took her to a whole new level I’m sure. But, today I am so grateful for parents who cared. They raised us to love the Lord, respect our elders, and help one another. Our parents knew what it was like to struggle, and yet they still found time to call on a neighbor in need. I remember our parents speaking encouragement to one another, going over to each other’s homes when there was a tragedy, or watching out for me and my friends while sitting on their porches in the cool of a long summer night. 

I miss that feeling of community. That feeling of family. Those are the same things that God wants from us today. To be there for one another. To love one another. I think it’s good to look back every now and then, and remember the “good old days.” It just helps us appreciate the journey.

Until next time…

Be blessed!