Good fences make good neighbors. If that is true, then this must be a nice place to live. After all, just knocking on this person's front door requires a real effort. Reality is: sometimes its hard to "get along" with others. So many things can happen; barking dogs, noise levels at night, kids fighting, dirty looks, envy... and the list is practically endless. I even had a neighbor once who took over six months to fix his septic tank-- its been over 30 years and I still remember that smell in August!!! Getting along to go along calms things down and a quiet response solves most problems. One thing that really helps is prayer, because it changes things and most of the time -- this means you!!! Jesus put it this way in the Sermon on the Mount...
Matthew, Chapter 5
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Wise words to live by!!! Beyond the obvious settling effect, people will notice something different about you and wonder. I can tell you from experience that this message from Jesus is not an easy thing to do, but it is GOD'S WAY and that is the best way!!! Bottom line is.... be as peaceable with those around you as you can be. If not, well, pull up your ladder and stay by yourself; and see how long that lasts!!!