"Practice Hospitality" Romans 12:13b
I grew up in Stockton, and there were many other children who lived on our street. Our house was the main place everyone played. I won’t bore you with the details of the games but there were several things we played over and over again. A tag game called “Jump the River,” “Hide and Go Seek,” tennis baseball, croquet, basketball, and when the weather was cold it was indoors for card games or Hot Wheels. In the summer time we rarely stopped playing long enough to have a snack and mostly drank water from the garden hose. When we would ask my mom she was always generous with the Kool Aid and some cookies. I learned a lot about being hospitable.
My parents had other couples or other families over often for dessert or a bbq. And we learned about hospitality with adults. We actually had visitors from overseas several times, a foreign exchange student for a year, and a cousin who was in need of a fresh start for a school as well.
Practicing hospitality is a way of helping others and showing love. It’s not about impressing people. It’s about spending time together, creating memories through conversation, getting to know people and simply caring. Adding a cup of water to the soup is great way to start. Bringing a plate of cookies to a neighbor. Making a phone call. Grilling a couple extra hot dogs and opening a can of chili. It’s loving them and loving being with them. They know quickly if it’s a show or the real deal.
I really believe that television and the media have painted so many incredible pictures of perfect settings that people are intimidated to just offer a couple cookies and enjoy being together.
Showing hospitality is simpler than we think and it expands our relationships. Here are four ideas for you: invite someone over for Papa Murphy Pizza, tell someone you are going to pick up a Costco chicken and a watermelon and you’d love to have ‘em come over, buy a pie and just drop it off at someone’s house, or write someone a note using pen and paper and mail it.
