A New Christmas Tradition: Love Neighbors
Mission Moment Monday is a weekly blog post meant to give your family practical ways to cultivate Family Missions.
What if we chose to have relationships with the people God has placed right beside us? What if we all chose to love our neighbors? What would that even look like?
I think it's much simpler than we often make it. I think we just need to be willing to serve when there is need, to ask questions, to be available.
But, first their must be contact.
In our culture we tend to hide out in our houses with our doors shut and blinds closed. We go straight from the car to the garage and inside our cave, without so much as a glance up from our phones.
I believe we are missing out.
We are missing God's beloved children that he has placed so near to us.
There are many ways we can connect with our neighbors, from having the kids play in the front yard instead of the back, to hosting a block party. As the holidays are approaching i thought I would share with you a way that our family likes to engage our neighborhood. I have found that having some practical ways to reach out to those around me helps me to be a better neighbor. The hope is that our family would engage them with the intention of sharing God's love. It is a great time of year to open up our homes and our lives to the people that God has placed in our path.
One way we like to do this in our family, is to go door to door with homemade treats. Our kids love this tradition that involves getting all bundled up, bringing hot chocolate and grabbing our basket of homemade goodies. The kids like to ride in the wagon, so we pull them from house to house as they hand out the treats. We have gotten to know so many neighbors this way. It is such an easy way for us to engage with those around us. Who doesn't like fresh baked goodies?
Everyone likes some holiday goodness. So, get out your grandmother's best cookie recipe, or if you're like me, go get some slice and bake cookie dough and whip up some treats! It is a simple and great way to initiate a relationship.
We have often included in the treats an invitation to a 'come and go hot chocolate bar party' at our house. It's a great way to meet neighbors and have the neighbors meet one another. And from experience, a face-to-face invitation tends to do much better than something left on the door step. When we meet them and invite them into our home, we are amazed at what God will do. He is so faithful to take out little acts of obedience and bless them!
This is one simple way that our family engages those around us, but there are plenty other ways to do it. Choose something that works best for your family and start a tradition that involves engaging your neighbors.
Nicole Kraus is a partner in the Gospel ministry with her husband in Highland Village, TX, where they disciple their two children and serve alongside their home church, The Village.
