Hospitality

The last two bible study sessions on Tuesday mornings have been about hospitality by two different ladies.  Each one offered a different perspective regarding hospitality.  It started to make me think about how have I been hospitable or how hospitality has been shown to me. I'm not talking about simply little gatherings and things, which are great but moments when the showing and sharing of kindness has touched your heart and has blessed you with lasting effects of Christ.

Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 

Leviticus 19:34

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

 

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Matthew 25:34-46 

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ...

There was one of those moments in my life about four years ago.  My children and I had been living in a small town in Texas.  I was a single mother at the time.  I had been working for two churches, which had its blessings too.  I had been struggling with the norm of being on my own, taking care of my kids.  I wasn't quite where I should have been with God at the time but looking back now He was there with me and I was right where I needed to be because had my family in his hands after all.

I had let a new person into my life.  At first he said all the right things I wanted to hear and felt that I needed.  He later hurt my family in a big way which led us closer to God than ever before.  He had molested my oldest daughter.  I found myself on my knees consumed with so many deep emotions crying out to God.  I would soon realized that God placed the right people in my life after all that came to light with my daughter.  It was amazing at the relationships that were brought into our lives, the help and support that surrounded us.

People, friends, strangers starting coming along side of us, offering what they could to help us through this crisis of our life.  The kids were looked after, appropriate distractions here and there, words of comfort, meals were brought, we were taken out to dinner. 

I remember my son asked me "Mom why are all these people bringing us food?"  I used that moment to explain to him how God cares for us and uses people to help others.  I told him that when bad things happen people come to gather along side of the ones hurting to help, support and comfort.  I told him how thankful I was and how much we had been blessed by their kindness.  I told him that one day we will be able to return that kindness to others.

If it hadn't been for the Lord placing all the right people in our lives at the time, I'm not sure how we would have made it through all that we did.  Shortly after on the road to healing and recovery I was craving the Lord.  I started to seek the Lord more and more on a daily bases.  My children and I before we moved from that town we committed our lives to Christ and were all baptist.

Just recently I feel that the kids and were able to "give back kindness" to others.  A very sweet family close to our hearts is moving away.  The other day my kids and I went over to see how we could be of some help.  Karlee and Sara helped watch the kids, and kept them busy and out of the way.  Kyle helped load the moving truck with boxes.  I helped where I could, doing odd things like, folding laundry, preparing snack, cleaning out desk drawers, cleaned the inside and outside of the fridge.  We spent 3 or 4 hours over there and then we took her kids back to our house to hangout and play while they continued packing, loading and cleaning.

At one point their youngest son wanted Kyle to go to the park with them.  He went to ask me if Kyle could.  I told him that it was up to him (thinking that I really wanted him to stay and help) and to ask him.  So he did and he came back and said that Kyle was going to stay and help load.  My face was smiling with happiness and my heart fluttered with happiness.  I was so proud that Kyle made the decision to stay and help.

Hospitality is so simple to do and give to others.  The rewards are grand and the blessings are numerous. 

Lord show me how I can be kind and show hospitality to others......