Thoughts about Hospitality

Hospitality, at its heart, is reaching out and welcoming people into your life. That can be done in so many ways, and at many different times. We have had times where we invited another family over and all sat down to dinner together. I usually make something simple that feeds a lot of people for little money, like a crockpot of chili or soup, or a tray of chicken baked in the oven with bread and salad. Or if we have guests after church, we will run by Little Ceasar's and get some of their $5 pizzas.

But other times, I've had a friend stop by for an hour in the middle of the afternoon and served nothing but a glass of cold water. We were freed to just talk and pray briefly without the work of serving a meal or cleaning up afterward.

One great thing about having people over so much is that it has moved me past feeling like each meal has to be a big production. Some of our sweetest times of hospitality have been when someone came by that we didn't expect and we foraged the leftovers together, or threw together some grilled cheese sandwiches. People are not coming to see how a gourmet meal is prepared and served. They are coming to be loved by you, and you can do that by just offering whatever you have, though it is simple.