Amy, the youngest of the sisters in Louise May Alcott’s, Little Women, asked her mother if she could invite several friends from her drawing class over for lunch. Mrs. March approved, saying “Cake, sandwiches, fruit and coffee will be all that is necessary, I suppose?” Amy quickly responded, “Oh dear, no! We must have cold tongue and chicken, French chocolate, and ice-cream besides! The girls are used to such things, and I want my lunch to be proper and elegant…” Mrs. March tried to persuade her daughter toward a more “simpler plan” that would be “pleasanter” for all, but Amy would not budge. So Mrs. March conceded, remembering how “experience can be an excellent teacher.” And the rest of the story is well…sad and humorous at the same time. (That chapter is entitled “Artistic Attempts” if you’re curious how it turned out)
As I read that passage to my daughter, Rosie, I couldn’t help but think that I am more like Amy March than I would like to admit. And have I EVER tasted of those painful teaching experiences where my focus on the food and its presentation prevailed over a desire to connect with women who are dear to me. Such times have threatened to tarnish my view on hospitality, but God has a better way—one that is not steeped in ‘proper and elegant’, but is rooted in love and commends the Gospel. Theologian Alexander Strauch calls hospitality a “concrete expression of Christian love,” which can sweetly strengthen the family of believers, and can also be an ideal context for evangelism. And we as women get to carry it out!
Does your home feel like a retreat sometimes? Or like a box you live in and can’t seem to get out of? God has given us the gifts and opportunity to create a warm environment in our homes which draws people together and toward God. Although we have a church building and meet together regularly, there remains a need and desire for closeness and fellowship which can only come about as we share and bring people into our lives and homes. When people come into our homes they get to know us in a special way. Opening the doors of our home is often the way we can open the doors to real and powerful ministry. Hospitality really is a wonderful call—a part of our larger call to biblical femininity. And we are not left to do this by ourselves--the Holy Spirit empowers us to embrace and carry out the biblical model of hospitality.
What does that biblical model look like? Come and listen as we will be discussing this topic at the Women’s meeting on March 29th at 9:00 am. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about what God can do among and through us and our homes for the sake of the Gospel. There will be fellowship, laughter, a short teaching and a panel (with helpful ideas) and good food! And it won’t be “cold tongue” whatever that is, I promise J!
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