A Lifestyle of Hospitality

June 7, 2010

Upstate New York is a beautiful part of our country, the old dairy farms and Adirondack Mountains are so peaceful. Growing up in the 60′s (65) -80′s it was a natural occurrence to just load up in the car and go visit family or friends. We never had to call and see if it was a good time, we just went. It was not uncommon for visitors to just show up and we always welcomed them… well after we QUICKLY shoved things in the closet, under the couch or behind bedroom doors due to a lack of keeping things cleaned up and in order (just being real!). lol…

It was normal for the adults to sit around the table, drink coffee and talk for what seemed like forever as we kids kept ourselves busy. People were not too busy to just stop what they were doing and welcomed guest. I find it increasingly sad how in a culture filled with technology, with an emphasis on communication, relationships are suffering deeply.

‘Back in the day’ it took effort to drive somewhere to see someone face to face and VISIT! Now everything is done through e-mail and text messages, which does not allow you to see a person’s face, to look into their eyes and REALLY communicate.

With e-mail, voice mail and text, communication is only when it is convenient for the individual, which makes it very easy to put someone off.

Today’s houses are built with small or no front porches. The front porch is the living-room of the neighborhood, it says welcome! When is the last time you sat on a front porch and just chat with a neighbor or friend?

Folks are so busy today… too busy, that there is this feeling that you have to call and see if it is a good time to come over, or make a date to get together. A lifestyle of hospitality seems to be lacking everywhere.

Last Friday I e-mailed one of my VERY dearest friends to see if she and her husband would like to go eat Mexican that night. Now mind you, they have 8 children so they can’t just up and go like Jeff and I can but I was really longing for my friends so I gave it a shot. After talking with her husband she called me and asked if we would just come over there to eat.

When we got out of the van we could smell the Mexican food cooking… I’m getting hungry just remembering it! The kids came running to welcome us and Jeff got in a couple of wrestling moves on the boys before they were sent downstairs to watch a movie. Of course we had to love on the twins before they went to bed. Then it was just the four of us… just adult conversation at their BEAUTIFUL table! The kids were so well behaved and respected our ‘adult time’.  This is one of the  sweet rewards of diligent and loving child training on the part of the parents!

We were greeted with a nice cool drink and these HOT babies!!! OH MY GOODNESS!

The food was better than what we would have gotten at the Mexican Restaurant, but the fellowship, the hospitality, the relaxed evening is what is so remember-able. If I loose memories when I get old, I hope God allows me to keep last Friday night’s memory!

After the kids finished their movie they came up to visit with us a bit and sing for us, it was wonderful! Jeff LOVES to wrestle with the boys, but he also loves it when sweeeeet Channie will snuggle with him.

I am glad our friends were not too busy, or too tired, or too selfish to just have us over at the last minute. Maybe we need more spontaneous fellowship…maybe we should all adapt a lifestyle of hospitality?

The Home Experience

Topics: Hospitality | 2 Comments »