A lesson in hospitality: Treating the people we love as good or better as the people that we like

Are you hospitable?

I don’t mean offering someone a sweet tea when they hit your front door. (Though I find that is always a good idea, but I digress…)

I mean in your heart.

and in your home.

To those in your home.

Because hospitality starts at home.

I fall short on this often. That needs more emphasis. O-F-T-E-N.

Earlier this week… I’m tired and have much on my to-do list, and I’m cranky and  my son just spilt half a pitcher of lemonade and I

over-react.

Sigh.

and then feel, you know, really crappy, for the next two hours, because I have hurt his little spirit all because why? Well in the MOMENT because lemonade was running into three drawers of clean kitchen linens, all over the counter and the floor.

But in that after moment…

when I remember he did it himself because him getting his own drinks and snacks has been a goal  on his ISFP for over FOUR YEARS and he is finally doing it~~ and I was not hospitable.

Had a visitor spilt the lemonade I would have put a smile on my face, grabbed the towels and reassured them it was no big deal. Multiple times. Until they felt better. Reassured.

Sean, who is not a visitor, who is my son.  That needs more emphasis S-O-N,  got my frustration, and “that look” (you know the one, Moms and Dads) and I’m pretty sure I had some colorful language under my breath. and maybe not as under my breath as I would have preferred cause later a said younger sister asked me what said colorful word meant… (Lord help my MOUTH)

#parentingfail

Know what I’m getting at?

Why does our my family not get our my best?

And we are back to hospitality.

As wives and mothers, the art of hospitality should be one that is dear to our hearts. It is, in fact, our highest calling in our homes~~to be hospitable to our families. And, even though my actions during Lemonade-gate showed otherwise, it is dear to mine. I love being with my family and doing for them more than anything. So, when parenting-fail days happen (like “Lemonade-gate”) what can we do. Funny enough, the things we should do after are the same things we should do before things like that happen…

1. Pray~~accept no substitute
2. Bible~~Arm yourself with at least one verse from the word of God because let me tell you, Satan. Hates That. My favorites on hospitality are: Matthew 5:35-40, Romans 12:13 and 1 Peter 4:9.
3. Tell~~tell your family you love them. Apologize when you don’t show them the hospitality they deserve.
4. Show~~show them your best. Best manners. Kindest Words. Every day.

Getting back to Lemonade-gate…I should have armed myself with 1 Peter 4:9 which says

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling”

My challenge to myself, and to you if you want to join me, is to be more hospitable– to your (my) family. To give them your (my) best. To show them hospitality. We need to treat the people that we love as good as if not better as the people that we like. I fall short on this because of many excuses: stress, frustration, exhaustion, busy-ness, impatience. This is not good enough. What IS good enough for those in my care who the whole extent of my job as wife and mother is to care for them?

Nothing but my very best.

Let me tell you…Next lemonade-gate I will be ready.

Blessings,