Hospitality is one subject I think we are all in agreement to do not only for others but to teach our children. Agreement is the easy part! Implementing it is quite another thing altogether!
Hospitality doesn’t come naturally to me. I do enjoy being a hostess, but it’s something that I really have to try hard at and, in turn, teach my children. Sitting with a group of other moms, I asked two very specific questions. First, how do you become more hospitable when you weren’t raised that way? And, how do you host people when your house is small and parking is limited?
It turns out I wasn’t the only one with questions. Some of them were surprisingly similar. Their answers were eye-opening and encouraging.
Half of my mom friends would rather wait until their house is cleaned up before inviting people over. But, the other half of my friends were willing to let others see their “real-life mess” and don’t mind people seeing their home as it is naturally. The reason that you’re there to see them and not their stuff.
I also heard some exciting thoughts about having a small home and not enough parking spaces. Ideas to combat these issues included carpooling to reduce the need for parking spots, using floor pillows to accommodate extra seating, entertaining outside, or even hosting a bonfire if your property allows for it.
What about feeding your guests? What if you’re not a gourmet? Suggestions for stretching a meal include serving applesauce to serving a pasta dish. For unexpected company, keep extra rolls in the freezer and frozen lemonade to thaw on the spur of the moment. Freezer meals prepared in advance to accommodate hungry visitors are always a good stand-by!
But most of all, it’s vital to make our guests feel welcome. This is a great way to teach our children how to greet guests warmly and make them feel like our home is theirs for a few hours. They can help hang up coats, put purses up, offer drinks, and assist with any special needs guests may have.
Remember that the whole idea behind hospitality is to enjoy one another’s company and to show the love of Christ. This is something the world needs more of and one that we can directly influence by teaching these things to our children even if we did not learn them in our own homes growing up.
Check out these resources from Rainbow Resources.
