A Moment To Breathe: Find Rest In The MessSample

Saying Yes to Hospitality

With my due date just two weeks away, I was overwhelmed by the thought of a family of five staying with us. But they came and our time together was wonderful. After they left, I was glad that we flung our door open wide and made everything work.

The following day, I got a text from a friend who was in town with her family, asking if we could do lunch. I was still worn out from the previous week, but I knew that seeing her would be a gift.

But instead of going out to lunch, I invited them over to our house in spite of the state from our prior guests. Of course they didn’t care – they didn’t come over to see a dust-free mantel or a spotless living room. We spent more than two hours together and our time was rich with conversation.

Lunch was simple, the kids played, and everyone enjoyed each other’s company. When they left, I was again reminded that hospitality is not about the condition of our homes, but the condition of our hearts. Hospitality is about saying yes. It’s not about perfection. It’s easy to get busy and miss out on opportunities to demonstrate hospitality. But let’s not miss those chances. Let’s be the friend who invites others in.