Hospitality is Presence

 I have been learning a lot about hospitality lately, and how it is more than being a good host with the perfectly clean house and the home-baked cookies.  It is so easy for me to want to be a good hostess and seem to have everything prepared and well kept-up, but that isn't the case while raising two sweet, rambunctious, littles ones.  I have learned from other moms with young children that just because the house is scattered with toys and no goodies to offer does not mean I can't invite others into my home.  

One thing I strive to instill in my children is that they are Seen, Known, and Loved, so that they also get a glimpse of who God is.  And that's what we all should be bringing to others right?  And this hospitality that I mentioned is more than the idea of having people over.  It can be seen how we are present to others in the store and elsewhere too.  And I don't take that desire for witness lightly, because we sometimes have bad days and are just trying to get by, correct?  I'm no different, and sometimes I just want to rush into the store, grab my groceries and barrel out of there; because doing it with the kids can be a little tricky right?  But I've been realizing that whether I'm coming out of church all-inspired or coming out of that grocery store while "holding my breath" that the kids behave, I can still ask the cashier how they've doing, I can still give a friendly smile to the passer-by, and I can still make myself Present and listen.  

As much as I want my kids to sense that idea of being seen, known, and loved by me, I need to be these things to others in general.  Do they feel seen when I ask them how they're doing?  Do I look interested in what they have to say?  And when I remove my own spotlight of anxieties from myself to them, my load becomes a little lighter because I'm not so focused on it.  And won't the other person feel like they are more worthy of your time and noticed, that way?  

I often pray "God, help me to be present to You, as You are present to us."  And in taking special notice of the person right in front of me, I hope I can live out the fruits of the Holy Spirit that only He can produce because I am striving to be a good Christian.  Am I joyful?  Am I gentle?  Am I patient? to name a few.  

All because I showed an interest in someone else's presence, more than to my own troubles.  (Not that having troubles is bad.  Like I mentioned, sometimes noticing someone else's keeps us from getting caught up in our own.)

So I hope you will continue to join me in this thing called life as we strive in our little victories of being Present to others as much as God is Ever-Present to us.  Because He is in our brothers and sisters, is He not?  And that is what I am learning that true hospitality is all about.