Next-door Niceness---on both sides

Many in our church know the OT story of Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia. The king loved her more than the others but he did not know that she was Jewish.

The "bad guy"of the story is Haman, a prideful, (think stiff-necked)  advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to him. So Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people.

As we know, Esther is in the court for "such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) and after fasting, she approached the king (a bold move) and told him of Haman's plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved. The  good guys won and Jews throughout the world celebrate that with a Purim festival.

Purim (פּוּרִים) is celebrated a month before Passover and women in synagogues all over Memphis come together to make Hamentaschen, yummy little triangle cookies. 

Those fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat. 

Neighbor Jane, shared the cookies & the story of this Israeli tradition with us and other neighbors. How special to share Israeli traditions by just walking next door. She said you can also get these fruit-filled gems at Ricki's Cookies, a Kosher Bakery in Eastgate. 

I cannot imagine any cookies taster than these tri-cornered ones, with apricot filling, made by the ladies of Anshei Sphard Beth El Emeth Synagogue and shared by a "nice" neighbor. 

Perfect with my morning cuppa. 

"Generosi-TEA"

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 1:9, NASB)

God is certainly a bestower of gifts to His children. A loving and generous God. 

Over the past 5 months I have been a recipient of a full measure of that generosity. For a season I was served cup upon cup of generosi-TEA through a God-given friendship. Claudia and Terry's neighbor, Julie.

Julie who brought light and hope and fun into the lives of both Claudia and me, especially during Claudia's last few months. She added "sparkle" in  the dark spots of the struggle. She was part of my tag team in Claudia's care. We laughed. Talked. Shared. Cried. She understood.
Just as the Lord generously blessed both Claudia and me through Julie, Julie also generously gave of herself. In time, relationship and care, Julie gave a much needed energy to those difficult days.

The three of us realized that the placement of each of us in one another's lives added real understanding of rule #1 in Robert Morgan's, Red Sea Rules. "Realize that God means for you to be where you are." Right where you are. Right at this time.

Now that season of relational proximity is over. The moving van arrived today.

Julie's job has her relocating to a new time zone, almost 900 miles away. The friendship and sisterhood will last, but the ease of personal connection will be more difficult. 

My heart is sad. Yet, how grateful I am for the Lord's generosi-TEA in having our paths cross "for such a time as this."