Dear Reader,
As I turn the ending pages of In Bloom*, I must recommend it to you. It’s a book on insecurity written in such lighthearted and friendly tones, you might repeatedly laugh out loud. Mixed with the humor, there is plenty of wisdom to discover. This quote from the book keeps ringing in my mind this week: “hospitality isn’t about housework.”
The two get mixed up in my head. For isn’t a good hostess a good housekeeper? On further inspection of this topic, I give a firm “no” to this question. I think a good hostess is one who picks up her phone, texts someone she knows, invites her over, and decides to be friendly.
You and I must remember that houses are lived in and most often look lived in. The houses on social media are set up for pictures. Beautiful, pristine and oh, so very clean. But, our houses (you know the lived in ones), have dishes in the sink, laundry baskets full of clothes needed folding, and peanut butter stuck to the high chairs.
And though it might be a mess, we must invite friends into our homes. For your home is a refuge and your friendship is a treasure- both needed by others. You carry wisdom and whimsy and a story to share. You burst through someone’s lonely morning with your smile and an invite for coffee. You create laughter when you share a meal with both your family and anothers.
It doesn’t need to be fancy. For me this is hard to remember! But, simple is fine. Friendship is needed in our homes. So push yesterday’s mail over a few feet on the coffee table and sit down for a bit with a friend. Talk. Laugh. Pray.
Remember that hospitality and housekeeping are two different things. Don’t put off inviting someone to your home until it’s pristine and perfect. Open your doors, mess and all.
We need your friendship shared at your table.
Lovingly,
Kassie Joy
P.S. Photo by Mandy June Photography
*The authors name is Aimee Kayla
Me recuerda a Marta y su hermana María. Cuando Jesús le dice: Marta, Marta, afanada estas. Así somos muchas veces, nos afanamos por el diario vivir, por la limpieza, por el qué dirán, por muchas cosas, y tal como Marta, olvidamos lo importante. Que es compartir, platicar, un tiempo de calidad, para escuchar a los demás, para compartir una palabra de aliento de vida. Así mismo nuestro Señor nos pide de ese tiempo de calidad con El, así seremos saciados y podremos, amar a nuestro prójimos y dar de lo que hemos recibido.
Bendiciones.
(Disculpen sólo se español por ahora :P)
Thank you, for your comment. I appreciate what you said. May we remember and focus on what is important.