apology-free hospitality

There’s an awful lot of articles floating around cyberspace about hospitality. The art of hospitality… biblical hospitality… hospitality when you’re busy and exhausted… creating the perfect guest suite. 

I’m just waiting for a post about how to quickly prepare amazing food while cleaning a beautiful guest suite with a gracious heart and boundless energy for guests you weren’t expecting. Just kidding. Well, maybe not. But until the secret of attaining super powers is revealed, I’m determined to somehow infuse my disheveled home with a passable dose of hospitality and a gracious heart – even if it kills me. 

And I think I know how. When I think of hospitality, I think of my friend JoAnn. She always makes people feel at home in her house. And in other people’s homes. Even on vacations. So I decided to study her methods. Surprisingly, I discovered her magic is really quite simple. 

She always offers a drink. 

No, I’m not suggesting that you liquor up your guests so they won’t notice dusty baseboards or store-bought desserts. But a glass of wine or a refreshing iced tea is a great invitation to relax. Think about it. Would you like a tour of my home? throws the spotlight on you. What would you like to drink? throws it back on your guest.

She brings out food immediately.

Okay, it’s true my bestie has a complicated relationship with Costco that I don’t quite understand, but she always pulls something out of her fridge when guests arrive, even if it’s just a block of cream cheese and some crackers. And here’s the thing. She doesn’t wait until everyone gets settled. She unveils the food right away. As if you’ve just gotten off the cabbage soup diet and your ribs are showing. Costco is her religion. 

She makes no apologies.

When I think of homes I feel most comfortable in, they all have something in common. They are apology-free zones. The best hostesses make no apologies. For unmade beds or cluttered counter-tops or even dog hair on the furniture. If you see an opened book on the side table or fresh laundry mounds on a chair, you are given a glimpse into their lives. And the unfolded laundry is proof that they value your friendship enough to put their chores on hold. 

I see that I’ve been doing it all wrong. 

I fret over freshly mopped floors and artfully arranged flowers. But a highly curated home is not the ultimate expression of hospitality. Allowing others to see my imperfection is much more important. I love the following quote:

“Jesus didn’t run projects, establish ministries, or put on events. He ate meals.”  – Tim Chester

So from now on, I’m following my friend’s example. I’ll pull out the Costco appetizers. I’ll pour you a glass wine. And if I really like you, I’ll make my pug share the couch.

The biggest compliment is a little share – pin the photo below!