Being a good community leader begins by being a good neighbor. In your own personal brand development, you should focus on the needs of others. Being a good neighbor is so important that Jesus told us it is the second greatest commandment. In Matthew 22 Jesus is questioned about what the greatest commandment in the law is. He answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Again, Jesus is questioned about this by a lawyer in the book of Luke. He is asked exactly who are we to consider our neighbor. So, Jesus tells a story about the good Samaritan. A man was traveling, and he was attacked by robbers, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest happened by, saw him, and passed by on the other side of the road. Also, a Levite walked by, saw him, and passed on the other side of the road. Finally, a Samaritan man, saw him, took mercy on him and bandaged him up. He loaded him on his donkey and took him to a local inn. The Samaritan paid the innkeeper to take care of him and said when he returned he would repay the innkeeper for any extra expense. Then, Jesus asked the lawyer who among the three passers by was the neighbor. The lawyer answered it was he that took mercy on him. Jesus told him to go and do the same.
Who is our neighbor? Anyone and everyone. How can we be a good neighbor? Be a helper.
One of the greatest children’s shows on television was Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Always in a kind and calm voice Mister Rogers explained to little children how to be a good neighbor. He left behind some great quotes giving, not only children, but all of us, great examples of how to be a good neighbor.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.” “When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.” “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” ― Fred Rogers
Good personal brand development focuses on the needs of your community which begins first by being a good neighbor.
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