In case you’re wondering, your house is not too small.
The stains on your carpets are not too awful.
The toys that creep back into the spaces you’ve just cleaned are not too unruly.
And the kids who put them there are not too wild to entertain guests.
Your dining room table is not too small.
Your chairs are not too few.
Your china is not too chipped.
And serving up food on paper or plastic is not too cheap.
Your heart is just the right size.
Your hospitality indelible.
Your laughter is welcome and your children’s joy infectious.
Your home is much more than four walls and the meals you serve satisfy far beyond food.
Just thought you should know.
You know?
THANK YOU!!!
I needed that today. :)
AMEN.
thank you – you are sooo right – I love it :)
We often put to much pressure on ourselves to be perfect and have everything perfect
I love this post
THANK YOU :)
Hugs
Betty Bake
Great post… Going away for thanksgiving, but will remember it next time we have a crowd over. Had a dream about you last night… We were in a prayer group together. And you whispered that the baby’s name is Gretchen. Had to share… Blessings!!
You are too sweet! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
since i’m currently stressing over the state of my house, thank you!
You are so wise, dear! May it all be about showing hospitality and not entertaining. May He be glorified, not me! :)
Yes!!! I just this week had four guests – my sister in law, two nieces and nephew for four days join us in our tiny two bedroom apartment with me and MY three kids…..and it was wonderful. We all used to live in Hong Kong apartments (flats) where small is tiny, so our perspective is that a “small” American apartment is huge by comparison. We had to go out on the balcony to all sit together for Thanksgiving dinner, but it was so special. We slept everywhere, sat anywhere, and got cozy.
Where there is love, there is always space. Hospitality is a heart thing, not a house thing.
That is a reminder that I need. I am new to your blog since your trip to Guatemala – I too am from South Africa. So nice to “meet you”. have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
That has to be one of the most gracious, benevolent, good-hearted, and fitting posts ever.
It was a delightfully thoughtful thing to do Lisa-Jo.
God Bless and Keep
Bless you – I so needed to be reminded! Washing the sheets, cleaning the house, finishing trimwork, painting doors…guests to arrive tonight… Gotta remember that the most important thing in my home is the presence of the Lord – NOT all the exterior stuff. Choosing gratitude, amidst the holiday chaos!!
http://freeagentmommy.typepad.com/blog/2010/11/yet-i-will-rejoice.html
How often I forget all that. How often I get caught up in the “shoulds.” Thank you for the timely reminder!
great reminder!
(& is that our mutual friend A.McG. in the last photo?? Was she there recently?? How fun… :))
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love that! Especially about the stains in my carpet because, well, you know… beautiful pictures, too :)
Well, my dear, you hit the nail on the head with this one! I had to intentionally go through my house, with the one hole in the wall, the scraped paint in the dining room, the mismatched chairs around my table… and decide the people were my most important value yesterday. We hosted here too, and you’re right, those couple of extra toys didn’t clutter the moment. We had a blast, and I’m bummed everyone’s gone home now. I don’t think I even noticed the chipped paint last night while we were laughing over dinner and the toddlers’ antics… :)
Oh, I do know…but I often need to be reminded! Thanks!
Isn’t this the truth. I almost freaked out when I had an extra guest for Thanksgiving and not enough matching China. No one even noticed!
Love this. Have you read “Real Love for Real Life” by Andi Ashworth? She said something that stuck with me to this day. She said basically, when we look back fondly on our best visits, it is not the china pattern or the linen napkins we remember. It is staying up till 2am talking because the conversation was so good, and it’s feeling warm and welcome. THAT’S hospitality.
Somebody just sent me this link because I just made a list that said:
*my house is too small
*my house is too messy
*something smells
I’m beyond crazy doing this birthday party. :-)