Hospitality & Entertaining

I once read an article that compared Hospitality to Entertaining. It pointed out that Hospitality is focused on “the needs of our guests” while Entertaining is focused on “impressing our guests”. I am not saying entertaining is bad or having a fun and fancy tea party is wrong. I’m saying focus on what is in your heart. Let your intent be to show Christian love and concern, always.

Many times we seek to impress others with our savvy decorating, our fancy tea recipes, our lovely décor and our clever conversation. But I have found that even the modest of Tea Parties are the most memorable and the most meaningful.

They are to be celebrated, with as much care and effort as a big fancy tea party. For it is at these ‘modest teas’ we may reach a heart yearning to be heard and understood.

Romans 12: 13 "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality." (King James)

Invite someone into your home with the intent to care. Don’t be so focused on how your home looks or what you have to offer with your tea. Be it a store bought cookie or a piece of toast! What matters the most is the message behind it - You care!

Romans 12:13 "When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or if they need lodging, for the night." (Living Bible)

Offer A Listening Ear

Do not listen with the intent to offer advice. Sometimes all we need is someone to listen to what we have to say. I know if I have a problem it feels good just to talk about it, not having any feed back. Just listening to myself sound off my cares is like a therapy. A way for me to work things out in my own head. Having a friend just to listen is a treasure in itself! And when you accompany that with the hospitality of sharing Tea - well then, that is all you need!

Ministering to others, and our family, is a calling we all have. Good hospitality does not include an expectation of return. To be hospitable does not include expecting to get invited back to their place or their party.

True hospitality is like an act of love, a gift that is given without an expectation of return.

God has instructed us to show hospitality and caring.

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1Peter 4:9

Everyone of us is called to practice this form of Christian giving to others.

We know that some people are ‘gifted’ with hospitality. They have a natural ability to focus on their guests and not so much themselves, their own worries and needs. They are able to make you feel that it is their privilege to have you in their home. They give you a sense of welcome and comfort. They are able to focus on their guests and not so much on themselves, their own worries and needs.

I think this is an acquired or learned quality. I have been around the aspect of “hospitality and entertaining” all my life. My family has always been hospitable to neighbors, family, and friends. They are also in the Restaurant business. When I was in my preteens they opened a restaurant and their focus was always on giving the greatest of care and service to their customers. Now I am not saying that this is exactly the same as Christian Hospitality, but what I am saying is that even if you feel that you are not ‘gifted’ in hospitality, with practice and love you can become quite good at it! With God’s love and guidance we only need to put one foot in front of the other and we will all learn the Art of Hospitality.

Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my song…”

When Is A Good Time For Tea?

You may ask, “When is a good time to extend an invitation for tea if there is no special occasion to be celebrated?”

Anytime is a good time for tea. A special sharing time with a friend, a daughter, a mother, a stranger, a new neighbor, someone you just met at church… Or with someone in the Hospital or Nursing Home.

It may also be by yourself. A few moments of peace to reflect on the day, what you need to accomplish, or to partake in a devotional and prayer.

Offer a Tea Basket to someone when they can not come to your home. What a blessing it would be to receive a Tea Basket!

Click here: for a TEA PARTY DEVOTIONAL

Click Here: to learn how to put together a Tea Basket