THE HEART OF HOSPITALITY || and it's not all about me
/Hospitality has been growing in my heart for the past few months. Isn't it the ache of every human heart to be known and loved? I get way too caught up in entertaining and 'putting on a show' {which can be a lot of fun!!} instead of focusing on sweet people around me.
I should be use to the fact that we always have a project going at our home. Now that we have moved, we have a lot of projects, and no furniture. It's the perfect storm for me! I LOVE to create and work on projects, I can easily get lost in them and forget about people outside of my walls.
It's been a about 7 weeks since we moved. God has really placed on my heart being hospitable. Opening our home and lives to others. Loving on people and not being so concerned about having a perfectly cleaned or decorated home.
It's hard on my pride to open up my home to people when my home is not furnished or decorated/designed how I want it to be. Not that I have always had a perfect home, or one that was perfectly decorated. But sometimes it's in the least expected times that I realize I am selfish and prideful. Ugh.
This weekend we had a lovely little family over for dinner. We have only met a few times. We really didn't know anything about them, and they didn't know anything about us, other than they are nice and have two darling little girls just a bit older {6 months} than our girls.
That's what it's about. Opening our homes when they aren't perfect, because really, when are they ever perfect? Sharing food, and laughter, and stories. It's about relationships. I can get so caught up in everything else and forget to focus on the hearts of others.
When our 'new friends' came over, I kept wanting to apologize. Apologize that I didn't have furniture, that there were toys everywhere, that I didn't have dinner perfectly displayed…..
But, when we are invited to someone's home, I just love being there. Talking. Doing life. I don't care about their decorations, their furniture, if the food is perfect.
So, this weekend was a bit of a stretch for me. To open our home to others who don't 'know our story'. They don't know that we always seem to have a project, or we like to fix things up. And I don't want my identity wrapped up in that. I want to love on others. I want my girls to see that first hand. I want them to love on others and be hospitable.
As I come up with easy hospitably tips, I will be sure to share them here. It's so much easier to have people into our homes when we don't feel like it's a big deal. Don't you think?? If you have tips, I would love to hear them!!
