I've copied this from my other blog and added some comments as I re-read it.
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Where has this gone in our society today? I am really beginning to see that it is missing in many places.
Tonight we were visiting with an older couple at their farm where they have been for 45 or so years! They moved on to the property in '63 I think she said. The original house is still there, used as a shed now! (This couple is Grandma Irene and her dear husband Grandpa Ted.)
They welcomed us in - there are six of us - with open arms. We all pitched in to help prepare the meal and get it on the table. They showed us their place, told us to make ourselves at home. On the tour there were three or four motor homes - "this is our oldest daughter's, they come out on the weekends. and this one is our middle daughter and that is our youngest's" There's not enough room in the home for everyone but they each have their little home at home! I loved it! They are hospitable not only to their own family but to the families in their church.
We ate and visited. They included the children in the conversation. I was so pleased, as a homeschool mom who felt a little under the microscope, that my girls behaved and answered well. They were well mannered and for the most part didn't interrupt. But when asked a specific question about penguins (What color are they?) my eldest answered with confidence! (They are black and white and yellow and orange. Needless to say this was questioned, and my daughter was respectful in her insistence that she was correct.)
But I digress from hospitality.
After we ate we played a fast game of Scrabble, the ladies did while the men visited!
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Hospitality. It's something our communities need and I find lacking.
How can I help? Without stretching myself and my funds? Well, why does being hospitable have to be costly? It doesn't and I think that is something that we have to get our heads around. A cup of coffee or tea. Bread and butter. With warm conversation and laughter and children. That is all it takes. (With or without children)
So this is my plan, my proposal. Have someone over. Once a week. Just for a visit. For some company. To be a friend - a listening ear, a shoulder, a friend to laugh with. That's on the small scale. (I have people here quite a bit lately. I started to think that I'd really slacked off on this, until I thought about the last month or so. And although many of those who come are coming to give me a hand, I still try to make them comfortable and welcome.)
Another thing that's been bouncing around in my busy mind is a weekly social gathering after church on Sunday, every week, for fellowship. Bring what you would be eating for lunch anyway, we'll set it up on a table, grab some paper plates and visit and eat. Get to know each other and each other's children and spouses. Invite grandparents. Make it inter-generational. So informal. So fun. It doesn't have to be stressful. Come and go. (This is too lofty a goal for my current season of life, but . . . one day.)
When I think about the gatherings in the Bible most have a food element. (Just a thought.) So, to me it makes sense that in today's society we have food at our gatherings! And why not?
2 comments:
But she's right you know, penguins are black and white and yellow and orange - for instance have you seen the Macaroni penguin!
That's right. And we had studied a lot of different penguins and the girls were particularly intrigued by the Macaroni Penguin.
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