Just Go Talk to People

Just go talk to people.

That was one of my favorite lines from a book I'm reading called Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen.  My Bible study is reading through it right now and it really struck a chord with me.

I've been working on being a good listener this year (2019 Word of the Year: Listen).  And in working on that, I have tried to go out of my comfort zone to make conversation with people that I encounter.  I'm always friendly with people.  Always say hello and pleasantries.  But recently I've been trying harder to have real conversations, to ask real questions, to really listen, to learn people's names and get to know people I interact with on a regular basis.

I started making more of an effort to do this with my neighbors.

I say hello and then try to start up a conversation.  Maybe it's about their pet, their new landscaping, neighborhood chatter or about their kids.  It has been really fun to reach out and get to know them better.  I am nowhere near done with this goal, but I'm making good progress.  You guys know that I love to bake.  I have been baking and sharing regularly.  I've taken several dinners to people in my neighborhood.  I almost always take the kids right along with me and talk to them about ways to encourage and love on the people around us.  It is really starting to click with them and becoming a part of our everyday conversations.  They'll now suggest we take someone cookies or dinner when they hear about someone having a hard time.

And do you know what the most surprising thing has been...

People are being friendly right back.

People are now knocking on my door.

Dropping off homemade loaves bread to me.
(Isn't that an amazing loaf of cheesey bread??  What a fun surprise!!)

Sending me messages that they left hand me down trucks on their front porch because they knew Fletcher would love them.

Showing up in our yard with chainsaws to chop up a huge fallen tree.

Learning our names.

Bringing their dog by to say hello.

Introducing us to their children.

And getting phone calls when elderly neighbors are hospitalized.

It has been such a blessing to us.

I love getting to know them better and it makes our house really feel like a home.  My kids are getting friendlier and more comfortable talking to our neighbors.  They're learning names and starting to notice our neighbors.  They are interested and becoming more caring to the people we see on a daily basis.

So my challenge to you is to... Just go talk to people today.
I'd love to hear how it goes for you!