Serving and Hospitality

Several years ago, we decided as a couple to open up our home by inviting people in for Sunday lunch. It didn't work like we wanted it to. Our girls were still small and I was working outside the home at that point. What does that have to do with it? Well, I am a messy and I was not comfortable with that part of me enough to say, "Please come to see me and my family and be blessed, just don't look at the house." This is a very difficult area for me....I desire to be accepted and have felt like I needed to be perfect to get there! Including a spotless house.

We did have several families over, it just became the same families, the ones that I knew were okay if they found a toy under the table, or something else very out of place. However, I did notice that several families mentioned that their children were so comfortable in my home - maybe because they could play without someone picking up behind them?

So, now we are part of a different church, a much larger church! My girls are much bigger and understand a bit more of what I am asking - starting around the age of 8, they began to ask why the house HAD to be CLEAN to invite someone over! And even though I still work, it is from home so housework doesn't get put to last on the list!

We are ready to open up our home....starting last Sunday! We had a family come over that the husband works with the youth home group our girls are in on Wednesday nights. They have two younger girls and we had fun, except for their youngest who was bored! I tried to get my girls to bring out some old toys...like the marble track, but that didn't go over well. But, my sweet came to the rescue and put in Wall-E for them!

For tonight, I have invited my sister and niece over for some Friday night pizza and a movie fun! And, we've invited a young couple over for Sunday lunch....no younger kids for mine to entertain! I am really looking forward to it.

My girls and I sat down the other night and wrote out a list of who all we want to have over and it is over a dozen families! I am excited! I love being hospitable...even though I stink at it! I enjoy being able to bless folks with a good meal...not healthy, but good!

So, this morning, I am reading in Luke and I come across a verse that really speaks to this part of me....but I will be honest, I am probably taking it totally out of context!

Luke 16:9 TLB I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.

For me, I would rather touch people's lives right here in my own backyard, if you will, than to just be happy sending off money to some organization and hoping they do what is right with my money. Now, I agree we need to support missions and charitable organizations but for me, this speaks to also using our money in our hometown to make friends. I don't make friends when I send in a check to a faceless organization.

I really like making friends! I also like making friends from different parts of the world and hope that by writing this blog I am doing just that. I know I can count a friend in Michigan and one in Japan and a precious young lady in Lindale and I hope that I can count you as well. However, I'm not gonna spend much money on y'all....the best friendships are free!

I guess the whole point of what I am trying to say is that I desire to be a blessing, and using the home that God has given us to do just that. So, if you ever plan to be in the North Texas area, drop me a line and if you wanna see me and not my house, please stop by and say Hi! We can share God's love over a big ole glass of sweet iced tea!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow....

God's girl, Pamela