“Hospitality is so much more than entertaining –
so much more than menus and decorating and putting on a show.
To me, it means organizing my life in such a way that there’s always room for one more,
always an extra place at the table
or an extra pillow and blanket,
always a welcome for those who need a listening ear.
It means setting aside time for planned camaraderie
and setting aside lesser priorities for impromptu gatherings.”
-Emilie Barnes. Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home
In the dimness of the early morning, my feet hit the bedroom floor with a pleasant spring to my step.
Ahhh, Monday – my favourite day! A fresh start to the week, no interruptions for 24 hours and a full work schedule ahead of me of preserving fruit and vegetables from around our farm. I tiptoed downstairs to make a fresh pot of coffee to start my day with quiet time and little mug of delicious coffee. Bliss. Pure bliss. Contrary to some, I love a good work week – seeing things accomplished during the week bring me great satisfaction!
As the morning rhythmically moved on and the house awoke naturally, the day started off with a pleasant summer glow, hazing low through the fluffy clouds in the sky. The freshly washed laundry was already getting hung on the line and breakfast was being served. Barn chores had been accomplished and it was time to do a quick clean of the house before stepping food into garden mode. I need to hurry, I thought … the green and yellow beans were calling my name … pressure canning takes some time in the day and I did not want to delay our starting time.
I had a tray full of mason jars ready to be washed and sterilized. The girls – my wonderful helpers! – had already been told that our Monday would start early in the garden, knowing full well the time off from picking beans would mean a bit more effort on the this particular morning.
As the girls headed for the garden with baskets to fill, I, too, carried out the last of the laundry in a basket to hang on the line. Suddenly, I heard a crunch in the gravel driveway – the familiar sound of a car approaching. Surely no one would visit this early on a Monday morning, I thought to myself …. peeking out from the clothesline, I did indeed see …. visitors.
Thoughts tumbled from my brain, wondering how would I accomplish all I had in store for my day … I was not prepared for company … it was early Monday morning (church going mothers, you know how precious Mondays are!). But quickly, just in an instant, I felt the Holy Spirit convict me…
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:2
Hospitality — had not I just been talking to my daughters about this very subject? Christians need to be warm and welcoming and wonderfully hospitable. What a gentle nudge the Lord was giving me – to be hospitable, even when it was unplanned!
Quickly, I rushed to say good morning and welcome my guests, an elderly couple that we had not seen in a quite a few months. I took them to the cool of the covered porch and left them waiting with the promise of a welcoming pot of tea and a morning treat of muffins, freshly baked that morning. How thankful I was that one of my daughters had thought to make such lovely muffins for a tasty breakfast – it surely did come in handy for my surprise tea time, I thought, as I arranged everything carefully on a tea tray.
Walking back to the beautiful outdoors with the tea tray in hand, I thanked the Lord for humbling me, for allowing me this lovely opportunity to show hospitality in such a modest manner. In an unexpected way, my heart was full as I poured the freshly brewed tea and offered my guests a tasty morsel… hospitality comes in many shapes and forms, even in the simplicity of morning tea and muffins on a shady porch, admit a busy schedule.
Hospitality is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. We, as a family, have been blessed by so many hospitable families and have made great friendships with others just by being simply invited over to their home to spend time together.
As a Christian, I do feel we have an obligation to be welcoming to others; it is also, sadly, a character trait I see that is lacking in the modern church family. I hope to write more about this subject in the weeks to come.
In the meantime, I challenge you to open your home to someone – a friend, a neighbour, a stranger even … you may possibly be pouring tea for an angel!
by Gigi
5 comments