Today, I’m thrilled to introduce to you Sarah Beals, our new contributor here at Little Natural Cottage! She graciously agreed to share on a topic dear to my heart: hospitality.
Truth be told, balancing life with little ones is a struggle for most women. And if your husband is in some sort of ministry– pastor, youth pastor, missionary, evangelist, elder, deacon– the lines are somehow blurred for us “ministry wives.”
We can so easily get caught up in the busyness of ministry life that we start neglecting our own homes. I wrote about balancing ministry and motherhood here and shared that your main ministry IS your husband, children and home. I also mentioned that when my children were young, I used my home as a center for ministry.
Hospitality is not just entertaining.
Hospitality is “stranger love.” It is always for the sake of the gospel and for the good of that other person. The goal is to minister grace and comfort to your guest, not to impress them.
Why do I define all that? Because we usually assume that hospitality means elaborate meals, sparkling clean floors and expensive foods, and just those misconceptions alone are enough to make us vow that we are not cut out for hospitality.
Plus, let’s be honest– hospitality equals WORK. And sometimes as moms of young children, we are already overloaded with work.
Of course, God knows us inside and out and He gives us a little warning about practicing hospitality: He tells us to “not grumble” when we have to open up our homes. (How does He always know!!! )
So… how do you do this with little children, limited resources, little energy?
You get creative. You use what you have. You settle for less than perfect!
Do you have a teapot? Then invite another mom of little ones over for tea and sugar cookies. Times spent over a warm drink and welcoming conversation are inroads for the gospel or for counseling. Does it matter that there are a few toys strewn here and there? No. They came to see you and are there for the fellowship.
Use what you have and don’t stress your husband out about finances.
Look for frugal meals and ask your guest to bring a salad or dessert. Meals like homemade pizza and salad are always fun. Or serve a delicious homemade soup with warm bread and a pretty salad.
Two of my favorite soup recipes are: Panera Bread copycat recipe for Broccoli and Cheese soup here and this delicious Ham and Potato Soup recipe here.
And when you have a house full of little ones, your crockpot is a life saver!! You’ll find an old standby recipe for Swiss Chicken Casserole here that I have made for years. It is always delish and I serve it with green beans, cranberry sauce and rolls.
Some other inexpensive comfort foods are homemade macaroni and cheese, meat loaf (my favorite recipe here) and mashed potatoes, or a variety of quiches served with salad.
If you cannot afford to have company in for a meal, consider having a friend over for a mid-morning smoothie or after dinner for dessert and coffee (plan to have decaf tea on hand for those who do not drink coffee).
Another alternative is to host a game night or movie night and learn to make popcorn with plenty of butter and salt the old fashioned way–on the stove top! People love this.
Yet another budget saver for me has been to keep boxed brownie mixes on hand ( you can always find printable coupons for these and then match it with a good sale. They can cost as little as 50 cents!) and serving them warm with ice cream.
I have found that having a small basket of toys, books, matchbox cars or dolls help to keep children entertained while moms visit.
And when life is really hectic, and you have unexpected company, may I suggest a trick that has helped me more times than I care to admit?
{whispering} You use the old laundry basket trick:
You carry a laundry basket around with you through every room, and put everything that is out of place into the basket. You then open a closet door and hide the basket until your company leaves.
There. I admitted it. Of course, ideally, your home is always tidy. {ahem} But for days when that is just not the case, I am sure you’ll find that my laundry basket trick works wonders for your peace of mind.
A home that is full of life, warmth and fun is such a rarity in today’s world. Opening up your home in friendship, generosity and hospitality is a ministry that all Christian women can take part in!
If you are new to the idea of hospitality, start small. Invite a friend in for coffee. And then go from there. God will honor your “baby steps” of obedience in this area.
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Sarah Beals has three favorite mottos: “Grace is for sinners,” “It is all of grace,” and “Grace will lead me home.” That pretty much sums up her past, present and future. She and Peter have been married for 20 years and have five children, ages 8 through 18. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watercolor, coffee and writing at www.joyfilleddays.wordpress.com .
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This post is linked at Proverbs 31 Thursdays, Hearts 4 Home, and Raising Homemakers.