Hospitality

At MOPS this week we had a guest speaker come and share with us about hospitality.  I saw the handout before she began and saw things like: Wreaths, Candles, and Doilies.  "Ho Hum," I thought, "like I have the time or the desire to use those.  I am not the June Cleaver type."

Then the presentation began.

She started out by dispelling any pre-conceived notions we might have about hospitality.  She made it very clear that hospitality isn't about you, it is about THEM.  So, no more "my-house-isn't-nice/clean/pretty/big-enough."  No more, "Well, I just don't feel like it."  No more, "I am just not good at having people over."

She said that is world is a pretty harsh place and it is a special honor as a woman to provide a warm and welcoming space for guests.  A place they can feel loved and cared for, where they are the focus.  Again, it isn't about you, it is about them.  As she talked I realized how self-centered I'd become in regards to hospitality and my home  My main barriers to having people over are thoughts like: I feel like my home isn't nice enough; I feel like my home isn't organized enough, or that I am too busy.  The main issue there is me.  Ugh.  That's a reality check.

She wasn't here to share with us how to be perfect, she was here to share with us ways that we can make people feel welcomed.  Put a wreath on your front door and clean off those cobwebs -- not so you look like the perfect homemaker -- but so people feel like they are wanted and welcome at your door.   That was the motivation behind all of her tips and tricks, which completely changed the tone of the whole presentation for me.

As a young mom who feels like life is a constant "to-do" list for others that I just can't master, I cringed when I thought the talk was going to heap more guilt upon what I'm not doing.  Instead, it was a complete guilt reliever!  It isn't about my house (whew -- don't need to organize every room in the house like I feel like I should), it isn't about what I cook (whew -- don't need to master that beef tenderloin recipe just yet), it isn't about the size of your rooms (whew -- no need to buy a new house) -- it is about THEM.  That is it.  Just have people in my house.  Make them feel wanted and loved.  That's it.

So, if you have been struggling with wanting to have people over, relax.  It isn't about you, it is about THEM.  Think of those people in your life that you know would be touched by being welcomed into your home, make up some PB&J, and have them over.  Serve it on real dishes, clean off your door before they come, and have a heart that says "you are welcome in our house."  Simple, right?