“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:9-10 (NIV)
Christmas 2014- feeding missionaries from three different countries
When Jase was growing up, he would often wake to strangers sleeping on their sofas and even on the floor in his bedroom. After we started dating, I began to see first-hand what a very different lifestyle he and his family were living than I was used to. They never locked their doors, and Miss Kay always cooked far more at mealtime than her family would eat – all because there was a very good chance that others would be there by the time the food was ready. Not only would these guests receive one of the best meals they had ever eaten, but they would also have a place to sleep. You could also bet that they would receive a Bible study from Phil before their head hit the pillow. This was a normal day in the life of my future husband.
Today, while all of us Robertson’s definitely lock our doors, we each practice that same hospitality that Phil and Kay have done all of their lives. Even this past weekend, Jase and I housed eleven college boys, part of a large choir who was here to sing at our church on Sunday morning. We fed them homemade chili, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream and breakfast early Sunday morning before they made their way to the church building. I’ve learned from Phil and Miss Kay that the best way to be hospitable is to not “fuss” over your company but to offer your home as their home for the time that they are there. Nothing is more awkward for guests than for them to feel like they have walked into a perfect home, a place where they have to sit on perfect furniture, scared to spill a drop of anything or transfer outside dirt onto a floor. I can promise you that no one felt that way in Mr. Phil and Miss Kay’s house. When Peter wrote the above passage, most people had nothing but dirt floors! Hospitality doesn’t come from perfect possessions but comes from a desire of the heart.
But Missy, I ‘ve worked hard for my home and all of my stuff. I don’t want someone else messing that up. What if someone steals something of mine?
Yep, theft is definitely a concern. And I can guarantee you, if you practice hospitality on a regular basis, it will definitely happen. My kids have had their toys stolen, and I even had a few bath towels taken out of my bathroom. But those same people also left knowing that Jesus came to this earth and died for their sorry sins and rose from the grave to give us all hope of eternal life with him. Maybe they felt bad about taking those items, and maybe they didn’t. But my family survived without those toys and towels.
Hospitality is not easy, especially if you are not in the habit of practicing it. It takes time, effort and money.
But Missy, my family doesn’t have enough money to feed a bunch of people, and my house isn’t nice enough to have guests.
I heard a saying many years ago that went like this: “If you won’t share a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when you’re poor, you won’t share a steak when you’re rich.” It’s not about the money. It’s about the heart.
People don’t care what your house looks like when they need a warm, safe place to stay and food for their empty stomachs. And I can promise you this – no one complained about the dirt on Miss Kay’s floors that was already there before they arrived.
When people leave our house, we have no idea what kind of affect we may have made on them. One day, I hope to see some of them in heaven that might not have been there without my family opening the doors to our home to them.
Open your heart. Open your home. Bless someone. Be blessed.
Have a wonderful week!
Comments
Lisa.T:
Beautifully written and inspirational. Thank you.
Mar 10, 2016
Darlene A.:
Thank you for the reminding us it’s not not about the home but the hospitality! As women we think our home must be magazine ready before we invite others over. So not true!
Great advice, just invite!
Jan 17, 2016
Kelly Aaen:
I love you and your children and know that you are passing down your warm, loving spirit to them!!
Jan 12, 2016
Dwana :
Missy, I am a nurse from small town McGehee, AR. I just want you to know how much your devotionals mean to me. God has blessed you with the ability to share his word through everyday activities and experiences. Thank you so much for reminding us all that the little things we do on a daily basis does make a difference in someone’s life. Many blessing to you and your family.
Yours in Christ,
Dwana, RN
McGehee, AR
Jan 11, 2016
Diane Singleton:
In 1978, I had cleaned my house, cleaned out my fridge and was packed to go to my mom and dad’s en route to the hospital to have Jonathan, our second son. A knock at the front door let us know it was a stranger. Our family and friends came to the kitchen door. It was an old frail man with a suit and hat that were slick and shiny with age and told of better times. He was hungry and had no place to sleep and we were leaving to go 125 miles away. All I had left was some bread and Bologna so I fixed him a couple of sandwiches, all the while apologizing to him that we were leaving (Jonathan was born that night). Meanwhile, my husband was on the phone making arrangements for a place to sleep and a meal for the man. I’ve felt regretful all these years that I couldn’t prepare that old man a hot meal and put him to bed and let him tell us how he came to be in Ridgely TN at the preacher’s home that particular night in July 1978. I love listening to people’s stories.
Jan 11, 2016
Jenna Healy Gloeb:
As usual, you’ve left tears in my eyes and something for my heart to ponder. I do practice hosptitality as I love to entertain, but often I get overly concerned about the appearance of my home before guests come over, and it stresses my whole family out. I needed to hear this. Thank you.
Jan 11, 2016
Nancy:
I have never had a problem having people over. My husband on the other hand feels very different. I’m always telling him that everyone deserves to feel wanted, we never know someone situation. I just keep praying for him.
Jan 11, 2016
Shirley P.:
I grew up in a loving home where people hung out, slept over, received warm meals, and loving embraces. We were poor (but didn’t know it) and believe me, our house was by no means spic and span! I was raised on a farm by two of the best people in the world. As I started to raise a family, it was my motto (and quickly adopted by my husband) that everyone was welcome at anytime. We had strangers over for holiday meals (mostly military because we were Air Force), we hosted people from other countries, and our kid’s friends came and went as if they were our own.
It’s a blessing to share what you have, even if it’s minimal. Thank you for the beautiful post. Our country needs to get back to the basics of taking care of one another.
Jan 11, 2016
Cathy Ile:
Some of our greatest blessings is hosting others in our home. Our home is not big in size but big in Love for others & our heavenly Father Jesus Christ!
Jan 11, 2016
Kathy:
I love this. We open our home to others and love on them while they are here. I had One of my son’s friends call me at 9:30 last night to come over. He only has his mom and she was heading to work so my husband went and got him.
One of my children’s friends spends a week or more at a time here. He has stayed almost a month.
My husband and I could only have two children and wanted more and inviting others, young and old, in makes my house feel full. We love it when it is just us four but we love our friends and family coming and staying a night or week.
I just got your new book Blessed,Blessed, Blessed too, I want to get the companion part but the store didn’t have it.
Jan 11, 2016
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