I remember being very young in the ministry. My husband just became an Assistant Pastor in a large ministry. One of our first staff meetings the Pastor talked about hospitality. He said something that stuck with me: "We teach and preach to people to have a godly home...we may even judge them based on what we see or don't see. If they never SEE a godly home, view your video collection, music CD's, scripture on the wall, prayer before a meal and a family that gets along, how are they supposed to develop one themselves?" That was all I needed! If I could have a small part in showing someone a Christian home (imperfections included!), I was willing!
There are a few things I learned along the way to keep my sanity that I hope will be a help. We have A LOT of people in our home! There are some things to minimize the stress and not break the bank!
1) Cleaning. It's so important to have a clean home. it can get overwhelming! When my kids were small I taught myself the difference between clean dirt and dirty dirt. I made sure bread crumbs were off the counters and sinks empty before I cared about the legos all over the floor (clean dirt)
- tidy from top to bottom everyday. this is just to maintain from thing piling up. You will eventually, when time allows you to do a deep clean (tips for another time)
- get kids involved! My kids were doing chores from the time they could toddle. Something as simple as pushing in the chairs after dinner teaches them the a routine of cleaning as a family.
- have a code word for "everyone stop and pitch in". Ours is "Ludka 10" This means everyone stops and rushes as fast as they can, grabbing and putting things away for 10 minutes". It was always a fun time with little ones.
- guest will relax more in an uncluttered area. Concentrate on kitchen, living room and bathroom.
2) Greet your guest at the door with a smile. If they are coming unannounced, panic a little (only natural) then say "coming" and run like the dickens grabbing things along the way! Always walk them to the door to say goodbye. Stay out (if it's not winter) until they pull away.
3) Have your no fail recipes on hand. I used to stress about cooking something different with every guest. I really don't know why. Now, after 20 years of hospitality, I have a few no fail things that work well on a Sunday, or work well on a lack of motivation day, or work well on a tight budget (which is most of the time) Don't apologize for what you make! They will automatically put each bite in their mouth and start to wonder "what makes her think this is bad". People really just want fellowship and encouragement. If hot dogs are on the menu, most people will think that is just great and be thankful!
4) keep it real. Don't be mortified and lose all sanity if you drop the potatoes on the floor! Honestly, people will be glad you are flawed and probably love the story and laughter. One time I had a family over and did not realize the crockpot was never plugged in! I had to laugh and cook it all in a pot, which caused more time for fellowship...no one cared! You will have hurting people in your home that have lost their laughter...let the Lord have his way, even if it's at your expense!
5) Get the kids involved...include them! They are in essence being hospitable too, by taking time away from their day. Make it exciting. My kids LOVE when we have company. My oldest is now 19 and has no resentment for sharing his evenings and Sunday afternoons with strangers or people with no kids their age. Why? Because it was always positive. They would sit around the table with us and listen and enjoy the stories. They learned that Dad may be able to minister to these people. They actually enjoy being "hosts" and clear dishes and serve coffee! And YES, they are all boys! I am so grateful for their sweet spirit when it comes to hospitality.
6) Don't treasure your things too much- you will hate having guests if your things are more important. We have college singing groups in throughout each summer. Each group seems to leave "an imprint" of their visit. I have nicely shaped iron burn in the middle of our guest room, I have 2 broken irons and plenty more! I love these kids, our missionaries, our guest far more than carpet. Do I love the stains...not at all! But as long as I keep it real, I have a story to tell the next guest.
7 keep it simple, make it fun! One of the reasons we might hate to have people in our home is simple pride. We don’t have a magazine home. We don’t get to dust every day. We haven’t gotten to clean the windows. We always see a cobweb when we get company. We notice that stained carpet when people come over. Just learn to love it, know they are more thankful than your realize for being invited and making a new friend!
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