Hospitality
By Rebekah Zehr, Parent Committee Coordinator
Hospitality is about relationships and making your guests feel welcome. While the concept may feel a bit overwhelming, it shouldn’t be the case. With all we have going on, it’s easy to come up with excuses. If we let excuses get in the way of opening up our home, we miss out on so many opportunities to bless as well as be blessed. So don’t worry about having everything perfect! Here are some easy steps to get you started.
Happy host. Your guests are there for you, not your home. Don’t stress over trying to make your home Pinterest worthy. Be kind and welcoming and your guests will have a wonderful time.
Offer. Have something to offer guests if they are not coming for a meal (you don’t have to host a fancy dinner). It’s nice to serve something to drink (water or coffee is fine) and a little snack. A fresh batch of cookies has the added benefit of making the whole house smell good.
Spontaneous. Being able to welcome surprise guests into your home is a wonderful feeling. Embrace the sense of adventure in preparing for last minute guests.
Prep your freezer and fridge. Buy in bulk, so you have something on hand when unexpected company arrives. Cube chicken breasts or steak and place in a freezer container with some marinade. These are great for grilled kabobs, stir fries or throwing on a sheet pan and roasting with veggies (fresh or frozen). When possible, pre-cut fruits or veggies. They make it easy to pull together a veggie and dip platter or stir fry.
Inviting atmosphere. Set the tone by adding a few easy welcoming touches. Pretty and clean dish towels and hand towels, calming music, fresh cut flowers from your yard, and lit candles make guests feel special.
Tidy up. Take 5 minutes to deal with unattended messes. Sweep up dirt in a high traffic area, empty stinky garbage, clean the toilet, throw the pile of toys in a closet, fluff up the throw pillows. This quick clean up can do wonders for making your house inviting.
Alternatives to dinner. Offer to watch a neighbor’s children for an afternoon, ask a friend over for coffee just to catch up, fellowship over a Saturday morning brunch or after church popcorn, or host a simple tea party.
Listen. Don’t get so caught up in your to-do list that you forget to just sit and enjoy the conversation. After eating, linger at the table. The dishes can wait.
Intentional invitations. Make an effort to purposefully plan a special meal (or host for a weekend). Write it in your calendar in advance and plan out your meal(s).
Train your children to be gracious hosts. Enlist your children in getting ready and welcoming your guests into your home. Ask them to entertain with a song on their instruments. Have them help with meal prep or plan a game.
Yes. Say yes as much as possible. Be wiling to give of yourself and of what God has given you.
With Christmas around the corner, I hope you have an opportunity to incorporate some of these tips into your hosting opportunities. May God bless you as you bless others!
