We know our homes will never be perfect. We can always make excuses for not having guests over or hosting the holiday meal, but hospitality seems to be a lost art.
While we may not hear a lot about hospitality, we certainly hear about “entertaining.” Home magazines and influencers emphasize all the things that will impress your guests when you entertain: beautiful spaces, unique recipes, and fabulous table settings. The whole emphasis seems to be—how can we show off our good taste and lifestyle to impress family and friends I know I have been there more than once in my lifetime.
Hospitality is not entertaining, showing off, or impressing people; it’s about welcoming others into our homes and lives. Hospitality is a practical way to demonstrate love to others in service to God, whether by simply providing a meal or opening your home to someone in need.
Picture Perfect
We all see the visual tours of picture perfect lives on Instagram, where everyone seems to have organized and beautiful homes. Everything in it’s place. In reality, none of us are perfect and we all have flaws. No matter what our homes look like we can show hospitality to others and enjoy friendships and company in our own homes.
Understanding what true hospitality is, can help you be able to show it to those around you. It doesn’t have to take a lot of money and you don’t have to have a fancy home. We don’t even have to know how to cook…… we just need to open our hearts and sometimes our home and let those around you in.
I have made a list of 12 ways to show hospitality while going through your week. Keep practicing these steps and before you know it you will be showing hospitality without even knowing it.
- Invite someone over for a meal or just dessert
- Give a hug to everyone as you come into the church or a gathering with friends
- Double a recipe and take someone a meal in need
- Ask someone about their day and sit down to really listen
- Babysit for a young family or a mom who needs to grocery shop
- Give fresh flowers. Most grocery stores have small bundles on sale every day.
- Give a smile with someone you don’t know while you are in town
- Send an encouraging text message to a young person who needs to know someone is thinking of them
- Offer a word of encouragement when you see someone at church that have been out sick
- Share some homemade goodies with an older couple or widower
- Send a notecard to someone who hasn’t been around much lately
- Pay for the coffee drink for someone behind you inline
Simple Tips to Show Hospitality in our Home
Here are a few simple ways to show hospitality to others in your home, no matter what season of life we are in or what time of year it is.
1. Start with Simplicity
A three course meal is great, but cooking a large meal is a lot of work. Start with something smaller.
- Tea and Coffee- Add a few baked goods, even if you get them from a bakery.
- Brunch or Lunch- Sandwiches, pastries, salad or fruit and add a mimosa or sparkling water.
- Hot Chocolate Night- Great for the holidays. Provide Ready Whip, marshmallows and other toppings. Try hot cocoa bombs.
- Bring and Share- A potluck. Tell everyone to bring their favorite snack and you provide beverages.
2. Give an Invitation an End Time
When you send out an invitation for any hospitality, give an end time. Example: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This will help you and your guests. They don’t have to wonder when they should leave. This will also give your guests a chance to plan other things around your event.
3. Make Sure Your Guests Are Comfortable
Always offer refreshments. Simple water or a snack. Hospitality is about serving others.
Prepare your home or workspace before your guests arrive. Make sure it’s clean and tidy, you have enough seating, and that you have the right amenities on hand. Fill the room with warmth by dimming the lights, adding flowers, burning scented candles, or playing some light background music.
Hospitality is about creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your guests, and it comes in many forms. Whether it’s inviting a friend to your home or being the perfect host at a business meeting, it’s important to show your guests that you’re happy to see them and make them feel comfortable. Here are eight simple ways to show hospitality to your guests.
What do you do to help your guests feel welcome? Comment below and share your ideas.
2 Comments
Apr 21, 2023, 11:38:19 AM
Stephanie@GratefulHeartLiving - Betty! Thank you so much for your comment. Making people feel so welcome, and on a budget, is one of the most important things we can do. I have posts coming on ways to make the home hospitality worthy on a budget. Stay tuned for those!
Apr 21, 2023, 10:32:52 AM
Betty Monda - I want to make my home a place of hospitality without breaking my bank account.