Thought for the week (From Cotswold Journal)

Thought for the week

3:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in S-U

LIKE many people I went away last week. Away from the busyness of work and the noisiness of the Jubilee Celebrations I took time out with my family and headed up to Northumberland.

As a first-time visitor, I was struck by the unspoilt beauty of the area. Rolling hills, rugged coastlines, and castles to explore, all within a 30-minute drive of our cottage, meant that a good time was had by all.

What particularly struck me were the local people. With a friendly, caring and helpful attitude, their hospitality made the week.

In a quiet and efficient manner, nothing was too much trouble and this was characterised in their speech. At the end of many a sentence came two words – “no bother”

– and on each occasion it came across as heartfelt and meant.

Two simple words, yet they got me thinking about how we treat those around us. With our own busy lifestyles, and society regularly focusing on the individual it is often our relationships with others that suffer. The desire to come first and the need to be successful can mean that our well-being comes at the cost of somebody else.

Yet the Bible gives us a clear pointer of how we can respond. In it we read Jesus telling those around him to “love your neighbour as yourself”.

A well-used saying this may be, but the desire to treat people as you want them to treat you, to reach out and give with “no bother” should be something to aim for, and would surely make our surroundings a happier place to be.

PAUL HUC, Family Networker, Evesham Methodist Church.