Practice Hospitality

Hospitality is the opening up of our homes and welcome others into our lives.  We are not to be self centred.  Rachael Crabb in her book "The Personal Touch" states that "Christian women just don't have a choice about whether or not they'll be hospitable.  It's a biblical command."(p.)

We find this being exhorted by Jesus in Luke 14: 12 - 14. The Apostle Paul adds hospitality as a requirement for office in the church (1 Timothy 3:2) and also encourages the early Christians in Romans 12:13 to practice hospitality.  Peter adds the following concept into the act of hospitality.

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling". 1 Peter 4:9


I have used this quote once before but it makes the point I think that Peter was trying to tell us.

My wife invited some people to dinner.  At the table she turned to our 5 year old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing/?"  I wouldn't know what to say, she replied.  Just say what you hear Mummy say, my wife said.  Our daughter bowed her head and said "Dear Lord why on earth did I invite all these people for dinner."

There are some wonderful books out there that can help with ideas and how to do it graciously.  One is found in the book review section and the other one has been around for a while and the author's ideas and experiences are offered below.

Here are a few tips from Karen Main's book Open Heart - Open Home. (p.171 - 176).

1. Never clean before company - Instead, try to clean on schedule and clean up as you go, so you'll always be ready for unexpected guests. 
2. Keep the emphasis on welcome, not performance - The purpose of hospitality is to open your arms to others, not to impress.  It's better to keep things simple and warm than to go over board.
3. Do as much ahead of time as possible - Plan ahead for hospitality - even cook ahead.  Karen says, " Hard work indicates I'm not managing my time well, not planning ahead doing too much, not being dependant on the Lord's strength, but on my own."
4. Include little touches of Beauty - A few candles and a jar of daisies picked from the year can make grilled cheese a gourmet delight.  (And they help hide the grease stain on the table cloth as well.)
5. Use all the help that comes your way - When someone offers to help, say yes! Many hands make light work - and sharing the labour can be a great opportunity for fellowship.
6. Keep records - Karen has files of easy recipes and creative entertaining tips.  Other women keep records of the guests and what was served.  I've found that to-do lists organise my scattered thoughts and help me focus my energy more productively.

There are other great books like the Gentle art of Hospitality mentioned on the book review page and also Nancy Van Pelt's Creative Hospitality.