While watching the latest Mars Hill Seattle sermon last night, I was a bit convicted.  Okay, a LOT convicted.  He was teaching from 1 Peter 4.  Verse 9 says

Use hospitality one to another without grudging. In the ESV it’s written, Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

I enjoy practicing hospitality.  I like having people here eating, talking, playing music or just hanging out.  Which is good, because we do it very often, several times a week.

Now, if you would have asked me about my attitude regarding hospitality, I would have said that I don’t grumble or do it grudgingly.  Because, like I said, I really truly enjoy it.

But then Mark started talking about the annoying person who comes and stays way too late.  Or the one who tracks mud all over the floor.  Or the one who does remove their shoes at the door, but then picks at their toes.

And I suddenly realized the many times I had grumbled in my own heart.  While I take pleasure in making a meal for the benefit of others, I grit my teeth when visiting children carry it throughout the house, dropping trails on the floor and wiping sticky hands on the walls.  I relish it when people feel comfortable enough to make themselves at home, but I hear myself sigh with irritation when there are puddles surrounding the toilet or they repeatedly eat a week’s worth of snacks in an hour.

Possessions get broken, the grocery budget triples, laundry doubles and cleanup time is, well, things are never completely cleaned up.  If I focus on that, I could quickly lose the joy that comes from hospitality.  Because the greater blessings are wonderful conversation, closer relationships, laughter, bonds of fellowship strengthening, and on and on.

My home and everything in it does not ultimately belong to me.  They are God’s.  As I loosen my grip on what I view as “mine” - possessions, time, finances, etc - the little irritations fail to frustrate me. As I seek to be completely satisfied in Christ, I am not disappointed or annoyed when things do not go as expected.

I am able to then serve through hospitality with gladness.

Tags: Christianity, hospitality

Having people over is one of those things that can easily get shoved into the “When We” category; when we clean the garage, when we have more room, when we have more energy, when we have better behaved children, when we, when we, when we.

Yet, when we actually do make the effort and take the time to have people over, we always say, “We need to do this more often.”

When we moved out of our tiny apartment and into our first home, I had elaborate dinner parties with 4 courses, difficult recipes, and time consuming side dishes.  I would top it off with decorations and planned activities that matched my theme.  It gives me a headache just thinking about it.

Having children brought me to reality with how we have people over, and I now use paper plates without batting an eye.  Family style meals with simple, hearty entrees are right up my alley, and finding something I can prepare ahead makes me absolutely giddy.

Impromptu gatherings are the best, as it doesn’t give me any time to stress.  Yes, I’ve had to come up with some pretty imaginative meals after scrounging through the back of my pantry, but I  know I can always call the pizza delivery guy to my rescue.  What I love about unplanned or short-notice gatherings is the sense of togetherness that just seems to come naturally, maybe because the guests are treated more like family as they help set the table or prepare the meal.

And that’s the key, I believe.  Having people over only becomes a joy instead of a burden when the hostess lets go of her idea of how things “should” be.  When the guests are simply welcomed in instead of being made to feel as if they are watching a performance.  When families can hang out for a period of time, relaxed enough to truly enjoy each other’s company.

Now, there is risk involved with simply opening your home if you haven’t scrubbed the sinks.  You may have the occasional guest who is taken aback about the state of your home and hair, taking mental notes about the sticky table they have to scrub with zeal before it is fit to set a plate on, or the fact that you unknowingly have a smudge of flour across your forehead.  But I believe those people are few and far between.  I think most happily overlook a little messiness and chaos for the blessing of being with good friends.

I know that I, for one, smile when I see dirty hand prints all over the walls and a pile of laundry in the hall.

I smile because I feel right at home.

Tags: homelife, hospitality, meals