One bitterly cold Friday night, I reached my limit. It was an especially busy week, my husband worked 70+ hours, and I just witnessed a car accident. Dramatically slinking my way onto the couch, I took a deep breath and thought, I am so glad the only plan for tonight is to snuggle on the couch with my hubby. And then the phone rang.
In a panic, my seven-months-pregnant sister exclaimed, “Min! Our landlord painted our apartment early without telling us and the paint fumes are unbearable! There is no way I can stay here . . . Can we come stay with you?”
I love my sister dearly, and we have a wonderful relationship. I lived with her before I got married and her now-husband lived with us before they got married. I knew it wouldn’t be a problem, but in that weary moment, all I could think was, Really, Lord? The house was a mess, we had nothing to offer for dinner, I was exhausted, and I didn’t want company.
The thing about hospitality is that it doesn’t always come in the form of a pre-planned party. In fact, a lot of times it looks like unexpected guests. Maybe it’s in the form of a friend who’s struggling over a recent loss and is desperate for a pick-me-up right when you’re heading to the gym. Or maybe it’s a coffee date you allotted an hour for but is pushing three because your friend hasn’t been out of the house in months. Or maybe it’s quite literally like us — with a sister and brother-in-law knocking on the door asking to stay for an undefined amount of time.
It’s easy to be hospitable when we’re prepared for it, but Jesus doesn’t command us to love one another when it’s suitable for us; He says to love one another. Period.
After a quick phone call to my gracious husband, I called my sister back and said, “Yes, of course, you can stay here. Come over whenever you’re ready and stay as long as you need.” I hung up the phone, let out a deep, slow exhale and asked the Lord to give me the energy I needed to welcome my sister and brother-in-law with open arms.
Instead of frantically cleaning the house or racing off to the grocery store for fixings for a hearty meal, I got out my red, blue, and green sharpies and decorated a plain white piece of paper with the words Matt, Steph and baby K’s room.
I didn’t know how long they would be staying or how all the logistics would fall into place. But when my sister arrived with tears in her eyes and an overwhelming appreciation for our open home, I knew that was exactly what the Lord was calling us to do that day.
The type of hospitality where there’s time to prep and plan every tiny detail comes easily to me. Sometimes hospitality looks like a beautifully planned dinner party, but I’m discovering that it can simply look like a sweet little sign on the guest bedroom door welcoming unexpected guests.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper
time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
“Or maybe it’s a coffee date you allotted an hour for but is pushing three because your friend hasn’t been out of the house in months.” -> This sure caught the attention of this clock watching, day-planning friend who measures out her life in careful teaspoons by the ticking of the clock. Thank you for this encouragement for the hospitality of graciously being inconvenienced and still putting out the welcome mat.
Hi Michele! You’re not alone in that struggle – it’s not easy to loosen our grip on our plans. Thank you for the encouragement in your response.
Mindy, I love this devotional! “I’m discovering that it can simply look like a sweet little sign on the guest bedroom door welcoming unexpected guests.” is a beautiful illustration of Jesus’ unconditional love for us and a great reminder to be open to God’s unexpected invitations to extend His hospitality to everyone.
Joy in Jesus,
Lara <
Hi Lara! Thank you for your kind words. You’re right – it’s not always easy embracing unexpected invitations but it is so worth the opportunity to represent Jesus’ unconditional love.
Mindy,
Jesus’s type of hospitality didn’t care how the house looked or what food was available. He didn’t expect perfection, just time with others. He wants us to show love to others. “Hospitality is having open hearts and an open home…even if it means we’re inconvenienced.” We need to get out of our comfort zone, slow done & enjoy people. This world is so full of rushing around, me first and constant connection through social media. We are missing out on face to face contact with others. This world is craving for more of that. I have opened my house to my sisters several times when they came to visit dad. I may have wanted to snuggle on couch with hubby, but knew they only had this bit of time to see dad before he passed on. I try to spend time with others-even if for a cup of tea & some conversation for a time. I try to let them air their problems & be there for them. That to me is true hospitality.
Blessings 🙂
Hi Beth!
I really appreciate how you said, “we need to get out of our comfort zone, slow down & enjoy people.” It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the fast pace of our schedules and neglect giving ourselves the time and space to love on others by simply being present. What a praise that you opened your home to your sisters before your dad passed on – that must’ve been an incredible blessing to both your sisters and your father, and also for you to be able to spend that time with them. Thank you for sharing your example of taking simple time out of your day to love on your people through connection and conversation.
Mindy, thank you for sharing your true feelings. I have found it is in those times when we are least prepared for guests that God blesses both us and our guests. I had a friend stay with me from out of town, then her plans changed and she asked to stay again a few days later, I had a really busy week planning a women’s conference, I tried to explain this to her. In the process she started crying and shared that she needed to be with me and hear the words of encouragement that she said I always had for her, it was then that I realized God wanted me to make room in my week to spend time with her. She came and stayed again and we had a wonderful time together. I felt so blessed as did she. She even said she wanted to come live in my home where it was so peaceful and cozy and homey. I then felt that I did what God wanted for me and showed her the true gift of hospitatility. And God amazingly allowed me to complete all the things I needed to get done that week.
Hi Terese,
Thank you so much for sharing that sweet story of opening your home to your friend. I LOVE when that happens- when at first it might seem inconvenient, but then God shows so clearly that this is where He is calling you. Knowing that you were obedient to where the Spirit was calling you is amazing, but then feeling blessed through the experience on top of that – such an awesome way to experience the Lord’s love. Bravo, friend for answering His call in this beautiful way.
How wonderfully God has used you to be love as described in Corinthians! You are God vessel, holy & lovely & precious in His sight! May you continue to be used as the hands & feet of God to whomever, whenever & however He would enable you through Holy Spirit’s infilling.
Thank you for caring & sharing from your heart of love!
Anne,
Thank you so much for those strong words of encouragement and affirmation – and for your prayer that I might be the Lord’s hands and feet wherever He calls me. I so appreciate that prayer, and pray that you also feel encouraged in this very way.
Mindy,
I appreciate your honesty, and how you turned your feeling of being overwhelmed into one of acceptance.Sometimes that all it takes for us to open (ourselves) and doors to others.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Hi Penny,
Thank you for this encouragement! That’s a great way to describe it – learning to accept wherever the Lord is calling us. Thank you for sharing your kind words.
God bless you, Mindy. That is a picture of true hospitality, open mind and open heart.
Hi Carol! Thank you for that sweet encouragement.
Mindy, thank you. Just thank you. I’m not sure any kind of hospitality comes naturally to me – I almost prefer the spontaneous kind, because then my perfectionist self is forced to acknowledge whatever I have to offer will have to be good enough. We had guests on Mother’s Day. Afterward, my husband asked if I had the Mother’s Day I wanted. I had felt exhausted before the guests ever arrived and still felt exhausted when they left, but was glad we could bless them. I honestly answered his question: Sometimes what I want and what I need are not the same. God gives us what we need when we’re doing what He asks, and He makes sure the “party favors” include joy!
Hi Pearl,
I so appreciate your honesty here! And I LOVE your last line – “God gives us what we need when we’re doing what He asks, and He makes sure the ‘party favors’ include joy!” That is SO good, and so true. It doesn’t always feel like what we want at first, but when it’s clear that this is where He is calling us and we step into acceptance of that, then we are able to recognize the overwhelm of His blessing. Joy “party favors”? Sign me up! 🙂
Such a sweet illustration. Thank you for sharing.
Mindy, what a good reminder. So often Kingdom living doesn’t look like convenience or comfort at all, does it? And, it didn’t for Him, either, but He did the hard thing anyway. Love how He set the example, and gives us the strength. All we need is to be available, He does the rest. (And, I’m sure it’s no accident that, after it’s all said and done, we look back to find that these are some of the most rewarding moments.) 🙂 ♥
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for the encouragement. I agree – it is a huge blessing that when we look back the seemingly inconvenient moment was absolutely worth it. You described the simplicity so well in saying “All we need is to be available, He does the rest.” Amen!!
Thank you for the reminder that hospitality is a state of the heart, not a state of the house.
Hi Danita!
So sweet to see your name here. Thank you for reading and for that encouragement!
hospitality is not entertainment