By Courtney Ingle
Columnist Courtney Ingle with her husband, Jeremy, and their children, Taylor and Jacob. Photo by April Garon Photography.
Before kids, we had friends and family at our house all the time. We’d host overnight guests. We’d have parties and get-togethers for any random reason. Our door was always open! It was no secret that our home was the hub, and I was Mrs. Hospitality.
After we had kids, a lot of that slowed to a halt. Our guests got married and had their own kids. Our evenings were filled with routines, and our weekends were for recovery. The social scene in our living room was transformed into a playroom, a living space for a family to grow and thrive.
We still have the occasional holiday get-together with family. We even still have overnight visits with my brother and his family, occasionally cramming four adults and five kids into our house when they’re in town.
The hospitality that we, as Christian women, think of is very specific. We think of opening our incredibly clean home to friends, family, and members of our church and community. This isn’t wrong! But it also misses the point. When we embody Martha, striving for clean perfection with her broom, we miss the precious moments in between.
Hospitality is a virtue that you carry with you anywhere and give freely to anyone — whether or not your home qualifies for a Southern Living write-up.
Since having children, hospitality is a little different for us. Hospitality is offering to bring snacks to the park so the kids can play while the adults fellowship. Hospitality is having your kids’ friends over for an afternoon, with their favorite snacks in the cabinet.
Moms, maybe you and I share this longing to be more hospitable and invite people to our homes. That’s a great desire to have! But we can’t let the pressure of unattainable, unrealistic perfection pigeonhole us into paralysis. Our main priority and purpose is still family – hospitality is just inviting someone to be part of that family, even for a moment.
Biblical hospitality isn’t limited to the home. In fact, very little of biblical hospitality takes place at home. Hospitality is bringing non-perishable food items to your neighborhood food pantry. Hospitality is making cards for homebound neighbors, delivering them face to face with a smile, and lingering for a moment before rushing to the next thing. Biblical hospitality cares for the strangers (Hebrews 13:2) and our fellow saints (Romans 12:13), whether inviting someone for a cup of coffee and a playdate, or taking the family to volunteer at a nonprofit.
So, moms, when the pressure hits to be hospitable, forget the cleaning frenzy and the candle. Serve others with joy — in doing so, you invite them to be part of your world for just a moment in time, and you love them the way Christ commanded.
Courtney and her husband, Jeremy, live in Brandon and are members of Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl. They have a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Jacob. Courtney is a full-time homemaker and can be reached at courtneyingle89@gmail.com.