Being Hospitable

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

For me it is difficult to imagine that some people don’t like dogs! But I can see where a pet can bring either anxiety or comfort to visitors. I have learned to just ‘let it be’. Mabel Ninan (All God’s Creatures) shares a sweet life lesson about hospitality that she learned from her little Maltese.

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Our pet pup, Snowy, greets everyone who comes to our home with a wag and a lick. His attention makes our guests feel welcome and they appreciate his eagerness to bond, even those who are not “dog people.”

One spring, a couple from out of town came to stay with us for a week. When we learned that the wife was scared of dogs, we did our best to keep Snowy away from her. Though our friend ignored Snowy, he found ways to gain her favor. He would sit near her and look up at her with longing eyes. Sometimes he would place his toy at her feet, inviting her to play with him. When she finally found the courage to pet him, he responded by snuggling close to her. By the end of the week, Snowy’s gentleness and persistence had won over my friend. To our surprise, she became comfortable around him, even happy to have him on her lap.

Sometimes when we host a party, our pooch goes about greeting everyone but attaches himself to one or two people and makes them feel special. Children, too, enjoy coming to our house, partly because they feel wanted and welcomed by our Maltese.

I believe God sent Snowy to our family to teach me valuable lessons in hospitality. Being hospitable has less to do with a tidy house and immaculate table settings and more to do with creating an atmosphere where people feel loved and accepted as they are. I can show interest in getting to know my guests, and like Snowy, I can give them my full attention by listening to them and being thoughtful about their needs and preferences. I pray that through my hospitality (and Snowy’s) my guests can get a glimpse of God’s love for them.

The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It’s about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment. 

—Shauna Niequist

Offer Hospitality Without Grumbling

Gracious Lord, thank You for nudging us to serve others with a heart of hospitality. Help us to lovingly share what we have. AMEN.