https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-aaj7j-1503ab6
When God said, "Be hospitable" he added a caveat which could only be divine: "And while you're at it, don't be grumpy." It's easy to be grumpy because hospitality is work especially if you don't think you are very good at it. Some people are really great hosts. We describe them as "good at entertaining." But God didn't say, "Be good entertainers." There's a difference. Seems to me that entertaining has more to do with me and hospitality has more to do with my guests
My friend told me that the hardest part of hospitality is trying too hard to impress with appearance and presentation instead of being genuinely warm and welcoming. Emphasizing these things can leave her feeling superficial and flat rather than warm, loving and satisfied. She said, "I have to remind myself that entertaining is not the same thing as hospitality. I need to slow down and take time to nurture relationships."
She's right. I need to remind myself of the same thing, especially when I end up running around at the last minute, barking orders at the family to help me finish whatever isn't, and making a general mess of a kind and loving atmosphere - - all in the name of "making things nice for the company.
Mom was raised in the ungrace of no hospitality. But she wanted to help people know that they were a big deal to God by inviting them over for strawberry jello and baked chickens in the blue roaster on time-bake on Sundays. So she kept inviting and that's how she broke that chain and raised all us Moore kids with grace enough to do the same only I don't usually make jello and often I buy the pie. We all know how to make coffee. Thank you, Mom.
Karen Mains wrote: "True hospitality comes before pride. It has nothing to do with impressing people, but everything to do with making them feel welcome and wanted."
Some thoughts from today's episode:
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