Hospitality – as we might have traditionally thought of it (eating out at a restaurant together, having somebody over for coffee, etc.) – has been difficult during COVID. Frankly, some of the challenges that we had before, concerns over our homes and caring for others, have only heightened throughout the past two years. While my hope is that the days of COVID being a daily concern will soon be at an end, the reality is that many of us are rustier than ever when it comes to loving others with an intentional welcome and honoring the Lord through our hospitality. The following articles can help to sharpen your vision and your actions for how to tangibly love others…
- One of the larger challenges that I often hear is that hospitality – especially the variety that invites somebody into your home – can be intimidating. The rise of perfect Instagram-worthy homes, meals that look like they were catered by a master chef, and the pressure to somehow create the “perfect experience” all push us toward thinking that hospitality is just too much trouble. Yet, the fact remains that hospitality has very little to do with how much you have, how fancy your home is, or how good of a cook you are. The point is to love other people in a down-to-earth, relatable, life-on-life manner. Trillia Newbell explains…
- Speaking of making people feel welcome, whether you have a lot or a little in our culture’s estimation, I found Stacy Reaoch’s article helpful, too. The title says it all: “In Praise of Unfussy Hospitality.”
- And on a related note: we’ll have a Worth Your Time focused on friendship coming up in the future, but for a brief appetizer to get your thinking going, check out Megan Hill’s article on the importance of small talk at church…
