I used to think that hospitality was a gift that only
certain people had. You know the type: the lady with ready snacks at her house,
tea in the flask, cold water to serve and a well-organized house. I have been
blessed by these types of people over and over again, and I am truly thankful
for those who seemingly put little effort into welcoming others into their
space. But for me, it’s hard not to fall into a panic when there’s an
unannounced guest.
Hospitality means love to strangers, not just those you know
well, and a stranger is probably not just someone you naturally want to show
hospitality to. It can tend to be expensive, and it takes up our own resources
that we intended to be used for our own family. It can be inconvenient, because
it impacts our schedule to some extent.
Maybe your house isn’t the cleanest, or the largest, or
maybe you’re not the wealthiest or the most organized, but maybe that means you
won’t intimidate anyone. Maybe it’s good for someone to walk into your open
home and get a sense of the life that happens there, even if it’s not
Pinterest-worthy. People will be blessed by being in your modest home, or your
tiny apartment, or in your house that has room to lodge ten more people. Let us
love one another, and show hospitality without grumbling.
Do consider giving your guest your attention. That
doesn’t mean your work has to necessarily stop, but it does mean leaving the
phone to the answering machine and especially not checking your Facebook
updates, tweets and emails! If you must take a call that you’re
expecting, be sure to let your caller know that you are currently with a guest
and will call them back. Give the person who is in front of your face
priority.
Being “hospitable” does not mean you need to have an open
door policy to anyone who wants to drop in at any time they want to or need to
drop in. That being said, being hospitable does mean being
available for emergencies and having some flexibility. Some people are
just plain needy and will take up all of your time if you let them; others
would never drop by unannounced unless it was urgent. Use some wisdom to
know when to bend, and when to stand firm and graciously say, “I’m sorry, I
cannot give time to that today.”
If they are sad, give
them some understanding and some cheer. If they are down, offer some
encouragement. If they are happy about something, try to join them in
their joy. You can pray with them, or at least for them, while they are
there. If there are children involved, try to never send them away
hungry. Think about how you would be blessed in their shoes, and do
likewise. Let them leave your presence refreshed and blessed!
Hospitality isn’t about having the perfectly set up home
ahead of time. Hospitality is about serving people with love, and being
open (and home!) to welcome them in their needs. May your guests be
blessed by your hospitality, and may you have peace in receiving them.
Certainly you can’t please everyone, but you can have
quietness and satisfaction knowing you did the best in how you
dealt with folks.
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