At a conference I once attended, one of the keynote speakers was addressing the topic of hospitality when she said something that took my breath away. “True hospitality,” she said, “is when your guests leave your home feeling better about themselves, not feeling better about you.”
Those words left her mouth and punched me right in the stomach.
So often I am a hot mess before guests arrive. I whirl around the house, scrubbing and cleaning and arranging. I plan my meal so everything’s ready upon their arrival. I snap at my husband and plunk the kids in front of the TV so they’re not in my way. Do I want to create a lovely, warm, and welcoming atmosphere for my guests? Of course. Do I want them to leave feeling better about me? I did…
…but no more.
No more will I blame a small home for my lack of hosting. No more will I allow the mindset of perfection to rule my behavior. No more will I use my introversion as an excuse for not inviting people into my home. My guests deserve more from hospitality, and so do I.
As we enter the end of summer and start of back-to-school, may there be backyard gatherings, impromptu get-togethers, and block parties. In the midst of them, may we be mindful of our motivation. May ‘good enough’ truly be.
May our doors fling wide and our smiles spread wider. May we practice true hospitality.
by Anna E. Rendell, as published in the summer issue of Everyday Faith Magazine.
These end-of-summer days can be full of sunshine, camping, and barbecues. But don’t forget to make time to spend with the friends who make life sweet. Invite a pal over for a sweet, summery dessert — make these berry tarts by our friend Nancy! Print your free recipe card, brew the coffee, and text that friend to swing by for dessert.
Scroll down for the recipe (courtesy of our friend Nancy) and download a FREE printable recipe card!
Berry Tarts
Download the FREE recipe card here!
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Bake Time: none
Makes 6 tarts.
INGREDIENTS:
- 6 dessert shells
- 1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla
- Raspberry or blueberry jam (1/2 tsp. per tart)
- Fresh blueberries and raspberries, to top the tarts
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Make the filling: In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Add the vanilla, blending everything together well; set aside.
- Arrange dessert shells on serving plate. Spread 1/2 tsp. jam onto the bottom of each dessert shell, then add 1 1/3 Tbsp. of the cream cheese filling mixture over the jam in each dessert shell.
- Top each filled tart with fresh blueberries and raspberries. Have fun making different fruit arrangements on top of the tarts!
- Serve immediately or refrigerate tarts until ready to serve.
- NOTE: You can use other kinds of fresh fruit to top the tarts, including sliced strawberries, blackberries, sliced kiwifruit, and sliced peaches.
To enjoy a look similar to what Nancy created here, use the Thankful 2-Tiered Plates and a Thankful Tea Towel, and voila! You’re ready for a beautiful dessert party!
Find these lovely pieces and more at Mary & Martha by DaySpring.
And let us know: How can you practice the art of true hospitality, right where you are, just as you are?
Leave a Comment
Anna,
I have to smile because we have all been there as we prepare for guests.
Our imperfect homes and cooking make us more relatable. This is a message worth sharing so I have x 2 on Twitter and Pinterest.
Sending you Summer Joy,
Lisa Wilt
Those beautiful and yummy Berry Tarts, I could really eat one or two of them right now. Unfortunately, I am 77 years old and had to sell our house so I am in a facility where we only have a refrigerator and a microwave. Years ago, when my Mother got too old to have the parties herself, I took over and hosted many things at our house. I miss doing that and I always made my relatives their favorites, so now I have to just remember the memories from those days, but all of you are so young and have children so please keep doing these things before the time will come when you can’t do them anymore. It is very sad and when I was 40 and a little older, I never expected any of this and did not even think about my 70’s or 80’s. Have fun my friends, but you have to have fun too as I like you did want to make people happy and sometimes ran myself into the ground until I was so exhausted and remembered that I needed to think about myself too. Love the story and the recipe. I hope all of you have Blessed weekend and please think of yourself as well as others………………………….Love………..Betsy Basile
Thank you, Anna and (IN) for the encouragement you were to me today. Truly, hospitality is about caring well for our guests – for their benefit.
One day about a year ago I learned a different kind of lesson about hospitality. You see, I am a very tidy housekeeper; rarely is anything out of place. And I am also very tidy about my appearance. But on that particular day, my home was a mess – and so was I. The floor needed sweeping, the dishes needed washing, the laundry basket was overflowing, and I really needed a shower and shampoo. But I did not care. A nasty virus had knocked me flat about a week earlier. And although I was no longer febrile, I was still weak.
And wouldn’t you know it, an elderly woman I knew from church knocked on my door. I thought about not answering. But when she kept knocking and calling my name, I opened the door. She startled when she saw me. Then she stepped inside and looked around. Before I could apologize for untidy me and my untidy home, she said, “I think I like you better now.”
After a moment of shocked silence, we both laughed about her unguarded words. And we’ve since laughed together about them when we tell others about the day Super Tidy Fashionista revealed that she was human just like everyone else.
I think the biggest thing about hospitality is to be welcoming and supportive. To really show up for one another and be inviting in a multitude of ways.
In Courage,
True hospitality has to come from the heart. You can’t worry about everything like Martha did. Be yourself & have people over for a fun time of friendship. Those tarts look yummy.
Blessings 🙂