Day 4: Loving Community Heals

I have an increased appreciation of a loving community. I have seen it bring healing to myself and others, and I think it is highly underrated.

When my father, Victor Griffiths, died I remember how members of the community swarmed around my mother, brother and I to make sure we had what we needed. Some dealt with legal needs. Others helped with emotional ones. Still others helped with logistics. But everyone from their heart expressed their love for us and support during an extremely difficult time with caring words and with tangible action.

As I reflect on the power of love and community I think of several people I have known over the years who believed so much in what community should be that they made it a priority to serve others and bring others together. People like Phillip Carter and Viola Bradford have brought gospel musicians together here in the Washington DC area. People like Margie Farmer and Dawn Tzahor have time and time again been the person bringing comfort or comfort food as well as ideas of togetherness to those singers, students or boy scouts surrounding them.

Don’t spend your time and energy trying to be around people who don’t make the world a better place by the way they give of themselves. Help them but don’t hang with them to the point of picking up their energy and behaviors. Many focus around being with “the right” people who can open business doors for them. Spending time around people with values that you admire will create healthy business opportunities as well.

In the bible we read many verses that encourage us to be loving. In fact, we are told that we can see who has been born of God and who really knows Him. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” I John 4:7

Today I commit to building a better community where I am. I will love more. I will surround myself with a hedge of loving relationships and focus on nurturing them. And this will help me to continue to heal.