Love one another

"Love one another" looks like my husband. One of the reasons I fell in love with him was his kindness. He would help someone who fell or who was carrying a heavy load - in one instance, a bike, over a turnstile and up the subway stairs. On our street, he has always been that neighbor to lend a hand, climb a ladder, give you the soil mix he makes so your garden can be as lovely as his. Six years into a Parkinson's diagnosis, he is still going out and shoveling snow or raking leaves for elderly neighbors or the single mom suffering from cancer. Or, just today, jet-lagged and exhausted, he went out to help the family whose dad suffered a stroke and is still in the hospital after a month.

"Love thy neighbor" looks like my friend giving cold water to the mailman and UPS guy all summer.

It looks like my son giving the homeless person outside Costco his favorite muffins that he was salivating for minutes before he saw him.

It looks like giving someone a quarter for a shopping cart they need instead of the change for a dollar requested.

It looks like smiling at people you encounter and endeavoring, if you cannot make it better, at least to not make their day worse.

It looks like treating others as you would wish to be treated.

It looks like not responding in kind to nastiness. Perhaps, taking a moment to consider what someone else may be enduring before you respond to or judge them.

It looks like thinking before you speak...or post:

T - Is it true?

H - is it helpful?

I - is it inspiring?

N - is it necessary?

K - is it kind?

Does it improve upon the silence?