Hospitality

What do you think of when you hear the word hospitality? Quite honestly, I believe the definition for hospitality was passed down to me from my mother, she always said "be the hostess with the mostest". My front door. It is a simple door, red and always with some decoration (a wreath, the letter D for our family) hanging on it. There is your basic welcome mat, a doorbell, and a sticker in the window referring to God. To the left on the porch is an old white porch swing. A gardener I am not, so there may be times when visitors see some weeds, some trying to thrive plants, or bushes in need of a trim. There is also a small seasonal flag that sometimes I forget to change out. My home is simple and definitely lived in, but friends and neighbors are welcome, though at times with a preface of "excuse my mess". Not a grumble, but perhaps a warning.

Warning? Yes, I have two dogs who shed, a full time more than 40-hours per week job, a healthy volunteer life, and I get around to dusting and vacuuming as I can. I do not employ a maid and my husband and I believe in quality time over a perfect house. I can remember as a young mother my mom telling me, "your children will not remember if the house was clean, but they will remember the time you spent with them". I have heard that quote repeated out of my own mouth to friends and neighbors. Recently, one of my tribe had her third child, each time I visit she apologizes for the toys and stuff - stuff that shows her children are loved and enjoying life in their home. I always laugh and tell her that quote from my mom, along with another you all have probably used as well, "I am not here to see your house, I am here to see you". 1 Peter 4:8-9 (NIV) Above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Hospitality. What images come to your mind? Do you get caught up in a perfectly clean, Pinterest-worthy home. Do you worry about whatever dishes you set out matching perfectly? Do no allow Pinterest to define hospitality for you, the picture perfect life on social media is doubtfully a reflection of day to day life for most people. God has told us to be hospitable, that may mean unperfect, unkempt, greasy-hair and lounge pants you - because a friend needs your time and attention. A great bible story that shows this is in Luke chapter 10:38-42. This is the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Martha gets so distracted by preparation and perfection that she misses out on the most important thing, quality time with a friend - Jesus. Her sister, Mary, gets it, but Martha is so obsessed with "being the hostess with the mostest" that she forget the who and why she was hosting in the first place. In the book, "We saved you a seat", by Lisa-Jo Baker, the first week's lesson in friendship is "Friendship takes showing up". Perhaps the lesson here for all of us is simply to open the door and be present. A perfect Pinterest house is not what people are really looking for, they are looking for the hospitality wrapped in your love and presence. The first relationship ever engaged in the world was the Holy Trinity; then, even on earth Jesus was focused on relationships. I believe that hospitality is about that greatest commandment, love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.