While I was painting this picture of the lady I was married to for sixty one years , I thought God had picked out an extraordinary woman for my life partner. From farm girl in Illinois, she became an X-ray technician in Southern California, then she became a committed housewife and mother. God gave her the ability to be outgoing and generous. That was the spark that began her use of hospitality in support of our local church and as an outreach to the unsaved. Although she was not aware of it , she was skilled in four aspects of Christian hospitality. One I will call “ Support hospitality “ . Whenever a new family or new pastor and his family would arrive, they were invited to dinner several times along with other members of the church. This gave the new pastor or family a chance to develop relationships within the church. The next type of hospitality related to the church , I would call “ Celebration hospitality “ . This involved planning an event and cooking for more than a hundred fellow church members in celebration of events like Christmas, Easter or a special event in the life of a member. Then there was what could be called “ Connection” or “ Outreach” hospitality. Bettie had the ability of initiating conversations with people such as neighbors. Sometimes these conversations would lead her to extend invitations to a dinner which also would include some fellow believers from church. Development of this relationship often led to invitations extended to visit church. (On a personal note, I often didn’t know who would be at our dinner table as I came home from work.) Then the fourth type of hospitality I would call “ Charitable” or “ In- need” hospitality. I don’t remember the exact year , but the Gospel Rescue Mission was able to expand their facility to include facilities for women. Bettie sewed all the curtains for that facility. In addition , she was involved with the Pregnancy Help Center when it was near the Miracle Mile. For that purpose she would gather donated baby clothes and bring them home to clean , sew and repair for expectant but needy mothers who did not wish to abort.
Do not compare Bettie to yourself. God has give all of us abilities useful to further His plan for eternity , just allow Him to work through us.