photo: CCO public domain graphic: Martha G. Brady
This week, I have been writing about hospitality. I have come at it from a few different directions. One is from the perspective of a woman whose life was turned in a completely different direction because two people were willing to open their home and hearts to her. Their world views could not have been more different, but they offered a place, a haven, where she could ask questions.
They didn’t argue, or even answer baited questions. They didn’t attack her lifestyle. In fact, when they discovered about her vegan lifestyle and her serious concerns about the environment, they did not make fun of her, but rather, turned off their air conditioning for their visits if appropriate. (They lived in Syracuse, New York, so it probably wasn’t much of an issue.)
Is your home a haven for those who need to see what a Christian home is like? Share on XThey simply became good neighbors. It is something I haven’t done well. I’ve needed to read about how to do it in books or watch how friends do it. stop
I have done it right at times in my life. But many other times, we have wanted to go home and have our home be a haven for us. Ministry has often been very tiring and we just wanted to close the doors. That can be appropriate of course, but I think we missed out on some times of hospitality that would have benefitted others. I’m glad to see that all my daughters are much better at offering hospitality than I was.
Is your home a haven for those who need to see what a Christian home is like? or who need to be loved? Or is it a place where you close the doors and make it a haven only for yourselves?
There are times for taking a pause and closing doors for sure. We just need to be sure we make time for opening them so our home will be a haven for others as well.
Oh Martha, I just love that God led us to write about havens in all their many shapes and forms, challenges and opportunities! It’s been fun this week to connect and meaningful to read what you have shared here.
May your haven be a place of warm rest this weekend! !
thanks so much linda:) i found encouragement at your place this week for sure…along with some prodding.
Wow very true with me. I use the excuse that my parents never taught me how to be hospitable. But I know even when I simply reach out to a person over the phone and that makes their day, how people coming over my house could do the same. #10 this week
it starts with baby steps often kristina. ask a person who is good at hospitality if you can help her sometime by bringing part of the meal or helping clean-up or ___(fill in the blank). watch what she does and how. she may not even be aware of the things she does that are show hospitality. what things about her style do you want to emulate? what do you want to change? think about people you can reach out to, ways you can reach out to them. pray about how GOD wants you to do this…then do it:)
I so understand this. Such a great important reminder: “There are times for taking a pause and closing doors for sure. We just need to be sure we make time for opening them so our home will be a haven for others as well.” I’m in the 8 spot this week.
thanks tara. blessings today:)
What a wonderful challenge! I have been thinking lately about how being in each other’s homes means the opportunity to be in each other’s lives. Thank you for the great reminder!
we get to know each other in new ways when we are in our homes don’t we courtney? blessings today:)
That was a very appropriate message and I appreciated your candor. Sometimes my home is welcoming for strangers and less than strangers who need a quiet conversation and a warm meal.
thanks gabriele. so true. easy to take friends for granted when sometimes they need a haven too!
Brilliant post. So often we think of ourselves as a lens projecting Christ’s love when we’re really just looking in a mirror…at ourselves. I have done this far too often!
#2 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/06/your-dying-spouse-163-saving-strawberry.html
andrew, i think the truth is also that there is a magnifying glass involved as well…that shows the truth of what is in our hearts to others…even if we can’t see it! it’s not always what we want to show. thanks for your kind words. you are often in my my thoughts as well as in my prayers. i’m glad you found sweet strawberry.