This essay is an excerpt from the book You’re in Good Company, a heartfelt collection of stories celebrating the unique roles that friendship, food, and hospitality play within the context of motherhood. Through captivating and honest essays, You're in Good Company
Oh how I can relate! For years we hosted a “Come-one-Come-all Pizza/Movie Friday gathering at our house. Many a Friday afternoon I would think, “Why did I agree to this?” as I prepared & cleaned & cooked. Then later as laughter & ruckus filled our house, I would pause to soak in the Joy & know those were the moments that make life worth living.
And believe me, after raising four kids, little spills & mess & even breakage was just to be expected—collateral damage! Ha!
Having a non-perfect home and forgetting something makes my guests feel more at home and less like 'visotors'. I love the honest connections that follow!
Amen! We've found so much joy in hosting even when our home isn't perfect and things may not go perfectly! The planned parties and the spontaneous gatherings have blessed both our family and our community. And now it's a joy to see how our kids welcome their friends and host them at our house!
I LOVE this!! Thank you so much, Sarah. It goes right along with a 52-week devotional book about hospitality that I'm currently reading: "The Welcoming Home" by Hilary Bernstein. This concept of collateral damage is so important to the heart of Christian hospitality. We must learn to foster the type of hospitable heart and home that loves others intentionally and thoughtfully, but at the same time holds loosely our hopes and plans for how that should "turn out" in the end. We have so little actual control; and when I grasp at control (perfect food, clean house, impressing others), while forgetting about other people's hearts, I miss the whole point of hospitality. Praise God for continuing to teach us in his grace and patience. 💜
Oh how I can relate! For years we hosted a “Come-one-Come-all Pizza/Movie Friday gathering at our house. Many a Friday afternoon I would think, “Why did I agree to this?” as I prepared & cleaned & cooked. Then later as laughter & ruckus filled our house, I would pause to soak in the Joy & know those were the moments that make life worth living.
And believe me, after raising four kids, little spills & mess & even breakage was just to be expected—collateral damage! Ha!
Beautifully-written & oh-so-relatable!
Having a non-perfect home and forgetting something makes my guests feel more at home and less like 'visotors'. I love the honest connections that follow!
Amen! We've found so much joy in hosting even when our home isn't perfect and things may not go perfectly! The planned parties and the spontaneous gatherings have blessed both our family and our community. And now it's a joy to see how our kids welcome their friends and host them at our house!
I LOVE this!! Thank you so much, Sarah. It goes right along with a 52-week devotional book about hospitality that I'm currently reading: "The Welcoming Home" by Hilary Bernstein. This concept of collateral damage is so important to the heart of Christian hospitality. We must learn to foster the type of hospitable heart and home that loves others intentionally and thoughtfully, but at the same time holds loosely our hopes and plans for how that should "turn out" in the end. We have so little actual control; and when I grasp at control (perfect food, clean house, impressing others), while forgetting about other people's hearts, I miss the whole point of hospitality. Praise God for continuing to teach us in his grace and patience. 💜
Yes and amen!