Do you enjoy having friends over for lunch or hosting a neighborhood Bible study? Is your house where family gathers on Thanksgiving? Or, maybe you’re the one who opens her home for the Christmas cookie exchange?
If you said yes to any of the above, chances are you have the gift of hospitality.
Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 1Peter 4:9
The first nonfiction Christian book I ever read had to do with hospitality. Written by author Karen Burton Mains, Open Heart Open Home is still one of my favorites.
I wasn’t raised by a mother who thoroughly enjoyed dinner guests and to be honest, if genetics play a part of this spiritual benevolence then my father was the one who passed along this holy DNA. He was always inviting people over and infuriating my mother by it.
Mom didn’t enjoy the work involved to prepare for guests. All the cleaning and cooking felt burdensome to her. It was disappointing to me as a child when company was cancelled or preparation was done with such drudgery. In this arena, I’m not my mother’s daughter.
We’ve lived in Tennessee for two years and in those twenty-four months in the south we’ve opened our home and our hearts no less than twenty-six different times for company to stay for a few nights. Dozens of family and friends and even a few strangers have stayed with us in this short amount of time. This doesn’t include our weekly small group that meets in our home on Tuesday nights or the barbecues and potlucks we’ve shared with others.
My children have sat around our table and enjoyed conversation with everyone from Russian missionaries, Chinese students from Beijing to Fortune 500 businessmen. Though we’ve never served the Lord out of our country, my husband and I serve the Lord by serving others with our best here.
Lydia in the Bible shared all she had with others, too. Her hospitality example was immortalized by Luke’s pen in the book of Acts:
Acts 16:14-15 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Lydia was a lovely example of persuading others to feel welcome. There’s a few things I try to teach my children by this example.
- It’s not about what you have. It’s about how much you care.
People don’t care how nice your things are, they respond to how much you care. Don’t wait until you paint that room or buy new curtains, or replace a rug. There will always be someone with nicer things, but hospitality isn’t about things at all. It’s about opening your home and welcoming someone in. It’s an exercise of love to share a sanctuary place of refreshment.
“Hospitality, however, seeks to minister. It says, “This home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my Master. I am His servant and I use it as He desires.” Hospitality does not try to impress, but to serve.” Karen Burton Mains
- Children should receive our best hospitality–first.
I’ve heard quite a few women share, “I only use my china on Christmas.” Or, “I only use my nice silverware for company.” Our family should get our nicest and our best, not just company or for Easter breakfast. Don’t be afraid to use your grandmother’s platter for taco night.
- Servanthood starts young.
My teenage son has gives up his bed for company. He sleeps on our couch or on an air mattress. I overhear guests thank him for allowing them the luxury of his room for their stay. No matter how much he jokes about us having too much company, he enjoys making people feel at home.
There’s no better way to teach a child hospitality than by serving. Have them bring dessert to the table. Let them go around and ask company if they’d like more tea, water, or encourage a child to sit with you while you visit. Children learn what they live. Hospitality is a gift and one that can be learned, too.
Don’t let a less than perfect Pinterest-home keep you from opening your door wide and welcoming a few people over. Your children are watching. Teach hospitality by your humility and kindness. Nothing says welcome like an open door and a smile.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2
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