I have
learned a lot about hospitality over the last few years.
Since getting
married and hosting a myriad of holiday dinners,
birthday parties, family BBQ’s
and more!
I have
learned exactly how much food to plan for 6 people or 50.
I have
learned where to find the best prices on meat, flowers and invitations.
I have
learned how to time it all just right so the food stays warm and the drinks
cold.
As a new
wife and mother, I admit, these were the things
I thought were so important to
having the perfect soirée. How foolish!
It was imperative
that the napkins matched the plates and the flowers just the right hue.
Then it all
changed.
Then I one
day realized, it didn’t matter.
It doesn’t
matter.
Yes all the
trappings of a lovely party sure are wonderful for the eye.
There is a
little shop in town that sells the latest Caspari’ products and I would be
lying if I didn’t say I swoon over them every time I am in there or that I don’t
buy them either!
I do, I love
them.
Spoiling my
friends and family in our home, well, that is my husband and I’s love language.
We love, love, love, to have our home full of people we adore.
But what I came to realize is that there were times I would not host because the
house wasn’t clean enough, or I didn’t have the time to make it all “just so”.
I came to
realize the insanity of that mentality.
The people
we were hosting loved us and enjoyed us just as much as we did them.
They weren’t
coming to sample my latest pinterest appetizer
or feast their eyes on the décor
of the theme.
It was the
connection we all wanted.
How often as
women do we hesitate to extend our love, our hearts and our homes through
hospitality because we feel we just aren’t going to measure up?
How many blessings have we denied ourselves because of that way of thinking?
How many blessings have we withheld from others?
For me, the number is higher than I would like to admit.
The measuring
stick we all use is different.
For some of
us the measuring stick is the latest edition of Coastal Living or Southern Living. Our family rooms and kitchens have avocado green laminate counter tops
and dark brown cabinets and 70’s lighting instead of the crisp clean white
cabinetry and granite counter tops gracing the glossy pages of the magazine. So
we don’t extend the invitation.
How do I
know? Ahem…
Or maybe
your measuring stick is your best friends remodel
or the figment of perfection
you have created in your mind.
The message is
the same sweet friends.
You are
being lied to.
You don’t
measure up.
You aren’t
enough.
What will “they”
think?
When this
happens I want to encourage you.
Stop.
Stop, right
where you are in that thought and
think about the last time you had a wonderful
time at a friends home.
What do you
remember the most?
Do you
remember what you ate?
Maybe.
Do you
remember if her dog’s hair was balled up in the corner
or if her sink had the
mornings toothpaste still in the sink?
No. Likely
not.
What you do
remember is “who” was there.
What you
remember is “how” you felt.
The special
people around the table, the laughter, and the hug good bye
and the “y’all come back now” as you went to
leave.
Guess what?
That is what
they will remember too.
They will
forget if they ate on paper or china.
They will
forget if they had pizza or filet and lobster.
But they
will never forget their time with you and the way you made them feel.
As time has
passed I’ve eased up on myself and my expectations.
I’ve forgone
the real plates more often and picked up the Dixie plates.
I’ve been
more comfortable accepting my guests offer to bring a dessert.
You know
what happened?
I spent more
time on the important things.
I spent more
time reminiscing with a girlfriend over a glass of wine.
I spent more
time watching the kids jump in the bounce house their stomachs aching from the
laughter or play a game of tag with their friends well into the dusk night
hours.
I spent more
time loving on and leaning into the folks who walked through my door.
At the end
of the night I was tired and my feet ached but my heart was so full.
One of God’s
greatest blessings can come through hospitality.
Showing our
love, His love, through such a practical demonstration of service.
Those
friends who don’t know Him but love you….
Maybe they
will get a glimpse of his unconditional love and grace through you.
Maybe it
will open a door to a life time of freedom in Him
they would
have not otherwise known.
The funny
thing is, the hospitality that we extend
to love on and bless others is so much more than a meal to feed their bellies,
it refreshes their spirit… and ours too.
Fellowship
with others through service is such a precious gift.
Don’t let
the enemy fool you into thinking you aren’t enough.
He is always
trying to find a way to stop us from showing God’s love to the world.
Hospitality
can be such a practical and hands on way to show those around us God’s love.
Don’t
believe that voice that says “you aren’t enough”
You are enough.
All you need
to do is open your heart and home to those around you.
They will
remember your generosity and kindness for years to come.
You are
enough. Your home is enough.
When He is a part of you and your home, it is always
enough
