Just Open the Front Door

Getting ready for summer

It’s mid-May, and the warm weather is finally here. Summertime is around the corner! For many, inviting others over happens more frequently as the weather warms up. We fire up our grills, plan picnics, and spend more time outdoors. So, for the next month or so, I’m writing a series of posts on hospitality and entertaining to help us prepare. I will offer easy dinner party tips, recipes for meals and drinks, and some fun conversation starters, to name a few.

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Hospitality

With summer approaching, my husband and I began planning to host some dinner parties and bonfire nights. We love inviting friends to hang out, share a meal, or sit around an evening bonfire, but it wasn’t always this way.

How did we become hospitable people?

During the early years of our marriage, I had this misconception that hosting meant having a picture-perfect home and serving gourmet meals. The thought of inviting people over used to make me nervous, fearing they would judge my cooking and cleaning skills. Growing up, my parents didn’t entertain much, so I had no clear idea of what hospitality meant. Over time, I realized it's not about perfection but about creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests.

We had purchased a large dining table and wanted to fill the empty seats. We decided to jump in and do it and began inviting people over. We opened our home and fumbled our way through for a long while. We gradually learned how to welcome people in. As we pressed on, it became easier, and after each time, we realized there was such joy in entertaining others in our home.

More than a meal…

As we learned and grew, hospitality became more than just sharing a meal. It meant serving others with a “come as you are” mentality, creating an environment that fosters connection, and extending generosity and kindness.

Our desire was (and still is) to provide a place of warmth and coziness, safety and assurance, and encouragement. We want to bless and be a blessing. We desire to truly know people—to understand their joys, struggles, longings, needs, and hopes.

We had no idea…

Thirty years ago, when we took our first steps toward learning to be hospitable, we had no way of knowing what would unfold as we opened our home. We had no idea hospitality would come to look like slumber parties, backyard barbecues, Bible studies, bridal and baby showers, book club meetings, birthday parties, movie nights, brunches, bonfires, and New Year’s Eve game nights. We never anticipated our home becoming a refuge for lonely teenagers, that our holiday meals would be shared with friends who had no family nearby, or that our living room would become a place to offer hope for marriages in crisis.

We never expected our back lawn to become the spot where two different couples would marry or that it would become a place to host a home church. We never dreamed we would invite a stranger to live with us. Our kitchen became the place for monthly youth group gatherings, the classroom where I homeschooled, and where loads of baking for others was done. After all this time, we still love inviting others over for drinks, snacks, dinner, or hanging out.

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Photo via Unsplash

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How do I prepare?

So, do I tidy up the house before people come over? The answer is yes. I always ensure the bathroom is wiped down, the table is cleared off, and any clutter is removed. I also often light a scented candle so the house smells fresh. But I don’t worry about the house being perfect.

I don’t clean the house from top to bottom before people arrive because we mainly stay in one or two areas anyway. People are not coming to inspect my baseboards or asking when I last dusted my light fixtures. Instead, they’re coming because they desire fellowship, a listening ear, a shared meal, or a connection. Our homes don’t need to be perfect to host others.

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“True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests.” - Eleanor Roosevelt.

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photo via Unsplash

Hospitality opens our homes and hearts. Open the front door and let people in. Your life will be richer for it.

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Helpful tips are coming soon! 🥰