Mothers are our first and greatest neighbors. (Wives the second and greatest, perhaps, like the commandments) I have been convinced for some time that the second great commandment is like the first in that it commands the love of the giver,... not the receiver. All our neighbors and ourselves are the primary made-in-His-image channels of God's love and care for us. Some, like Joseph's brothers, may intend evil in their actions, but God intends good for His children and uses even rotten neighbors as channels of His perfect love and care. For some time, I have felt particularly blessed when thanking God for various onetime neighbors probably deceased whom I have lost touch with. I generally know nothing about their probable eternal destiny but I praise God for all His gifts. Exodus and Deuteronomy tell us that father is first in honor, but Leviticus tells us that mother is first in reverence.
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