The Habit of Hospitality

I have written about hospitality many times here on the blog (I even wrote a 31-day series about hospitality in my early blogging days.), because it is something that I feel strongly about.  

But as enthusiastic as I am about hospitality, it is far too easy to fall out of the habit, which is what we have done lately. So Ron and I have become more intentional about it for the month of July, and we are hosting a different group of people each Sunday this month. 

🌻 On the first Sunday of July, we invited Ryan and Sarah and the children over for homemade peach ice cream. We are taking every opportunity to spend time with them before they move later this summer. 

🌻  On the second Sunday, Bekah invited a group of young adults over after church. I made lunch (Ron grilled the chicken), and we all enjoyed our time of fellowship and conversation around the table. Then the young adults played games while the older adults (Ron and I 😉) propped our feet up in the sunroom. 

🌻  On Sunday #3, we invited a sweet couple from our church. We have talked to these friends many times at church, but there is something special about sitting down together in a home. We learned where they have worked and lived, the names of their grandchildren, and that they met in French class. ♥

🌻 This Sunday afternoon, Ron's siblings and their spouses are coming over for homemade ice cream. 

🌻On the last Sunday of the month, we'll be having our annual Summer Birthday Celebration in which we will celebrate TEN summer birthday people! 

We will not be keeping up this hospitality pace after this month! August is already crazy without adding extra things. But this was a way to jump start our hospitality habit! Although we already host many family gatherings, our goal is to reach out and invite others into our home. We are at a stage in life where it is possible to do this if we are intentional about it. 

Here are a few pointers for encouraging the habit of hospitality.

ONE: Invite! 

Yes, actually invite someone. 

It does no good to say, "We should have people over more" or "we need to invite so-and-so" unless we actually DO it. 

So choose a date and invite. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find a date that works for everyone, so you may as well get started. Even if you have to plan a few weeks out (or even further), at least you have a date on the calendar and you can look forward it. 

I always remember my friend Deanna's hospitality motto: People like to be invited. So simple, but so profound. 

TWO: Keep it simple.

Sometimes, my lofty goals get in my own way. If I can only host when I have the perfect menu or my house is white-glove clean, then I probably won't do it. I have to remember my own hospitality motto: Not to impress, but to bless. 

It helps to keep it simple. I often rely on a tried-and-true menu. My summer menu is typically grilled chicken, a variety of summer salads, and a cool dessert. That is what I served the young adults. I repeated the menu the following week with a few tweaks because of dietary needs. 

Plan a simple, cheerful centerpiece. For summer, my go-to is a vase or pitcher of flowers cut from our yard. Ron planted a wild flower mix in one of the raised beds, and some zinnias grew back from last year's seeds. We also have several hydrangeas. So there is usually something that we can use for a simple arrangement. For winter, my go-to is a candle in a glass hurricane, although I will also use mums or poinsettias (those are always faux because we have a cat) or tulips. 

THREE: Plan ahead. 

Although I am a procrastinator by nature, I must overcome those tendencies when I host. It is essential that I plan and work ahead, even if I am keeping it simple. 

We have already mentioned the need to plan ahead on the calendar and settle on a date to have people over. (Of course, it is also wonderful to be spontaneous and invite someone on the spot! But I rarely do that, so I will host more frequently if I get a date on the calendar and intentionally set aside that time.) 

It also helps me to make a list of tasks and do as many as possible ahead of the event. Put the ice cream base together the day before so it can chill in the fridge overnight before freezing. Make the salads ahead. Put them in the bowls you will serve them in. (Or at least choose your serving bowls/platters ahead so that you will not be scrambling as you're getting dinner on the table.) Set the table the night before. 

Recent note to self: Cut and arrange the flowers the day before. If you try to do it on Sunday morning, you will be late to Sunday School because it takes longer than you think. 

In my next post, I am going to tell you about a wonderful hostess!