My mother, Marilyn Mackey, called her mother every Saturday morning for 30 years. “We would call to stay connected and know what was going on in each other's lives.” My mother reminds me, “That was when we paid for long-distance calls too.” But the practice of staying connected begins a generation before her. “My mother’s relationship with her mother, Grandma Miller, was that we saw them every weekend. We would go to their house on the farm and have a meal and play games.”

In the chill of the winter months, it is instinctive to retreat into the warmth of our homes. But winter also presents unique opportunities to love our neighbors in tangible and practical ways. Checking in on neighbors is a practice that can foster meaningful connection and offer important physical, emotional, and relational care.

Giving gifts is a practice rooted in the Christian Scriptures and spans cultural traditions. Gift giving was a practice in ancient Rome around the winter solstice. The celebration of the incarnation was established on December 25 in 336, connecting the Biblical story of the gifts of the magi with an ancient tradition of giving.

Caroling is a wonderful way to meet new neighbors, make memories with friends, and benefit from the all the gifts of singing songs.

Fallen leaves are an annual reminder of who is your neighbor. They are an invitation to care for both the people and place around you.