The gift of hospitality when we are in need

How good are you at accepting help from others?

Not simple gestures, like someone opening the door for us or letting us go first in the grocery line with our one item. Those are easy. And while they make us smile, they seldom challenge us in humility.

I’m talking about the kind of help we don’t even know we need. Where someone sees deep into our brokenness. Our fears. Our financial distress. Our unknowns.

When they reach down and surround us with comfort we could scarcely express that we needed. That perhaps, we didn’t even know we needed. Living out Galatians 5:2 to share one another’s burdens.

Trusting what we can’t see

One dark January night, our moving van pulled into the driveway of another new home. The 5th one in 5 years. This one was different. We were coming off a very high-stress year, and ping pong moving between 2 towns. Loss.

My husband had gone ahead to start a job and was staying with friends. My dear girlfriend went with my hubs to help find a home she thought would be something that fit “my” hopes.

Until pulling up, the kids and I had to trust in what they picked. Not easy for a nester.

Wow, did they deliver! It was the nicest house we’d ever lived in. Due to an unlucky situation for the landlord, we got it for a good price that was below the value.

After we opened the door? We were in for a major surprise. My sweet girlfriends had gone ahead and cleaned for me! They even found a few pieces of furniture to help us be comfortable.

Filling unexpected needs through hospitality

Their generous bringing in of hospitality didn’t stop at the door. The counters were lined with relaxing treats. Groceries were in the fridge to get us started for a smooth first few days.

Our new bathroom was decorated like a spa! Complete with candy, flowers and even a bath pillow.

I was amazed that we had a big tub, but to see such loving details throughout the home? It was overwhelming. In the best way imaginable.

The misunderstood concept of hospitality

It was love. It was true and outrageous hospitality. In our home, but for us, not by us.

We were blown away. Ecstatic. Grateful. Humbled.

I’ve been on both ends of giving. And to be frank, it used to be very difficult to accept hospitality.

Giving it was wonderful, fulfilling, a true delight. Receiving it? That just felt uncomfortable. Guilty. We were conflicted, mortified at the idea of putting people out.

That is a misunderstood concept of hospitality. We are taught that it is better to give than to receive. Indeed.

**How can others give if we refuse to receive?**

Check out the last part of this definition…

HOS’PITABLE,adjective [Latin hospitalis, from hospes, a guest.]

1. Receiving and entertaining strangers, with kindness and without reward; kind to strangers and guests; disposed to treat guests with generous kindness

2. Proceeding from or indicating kindness to guests; manifesting generosity;

When I first started learning about the practice of hospitality as a young woman, a friend told me that denying help from others from prideful. And more so, I needed to say YES and let people help me.

She sweetly pointed out, how much joy she knew it brought me to do for others. I needed to learn humility. So as not to steal the joy THEY receive from giving.

A life-changing lesson.

Let people help us with their gift of hospitality

The potential of a generous spirit, of true hospitality, is powerful no matter which end of it we are on.

Let’s keep working on expressing true acts of sharing one another’s troubles. Learning to give is important. Just as sweet can be the simple of act of acceptance.

How do we do that?

Drop the pride. Let people know the struggle. Say thank you. Trust that they are going home with joy at being able to help.

Romans 12: 6–8 NIV
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.