ok, so you might have gathered from reading my other blog posts that I really try and write the way that I think, speak, am, in real life, I try really hard to be a "what you see is what you get" kinda girl, That said we have been blessed with the ability to make friends with lots of different "classes" of people, Doctors, students, pastors, rappers,blue collar, white collar, no collar, you name it we've invited them over for dinner. And they come, oh yeah, not to brag but I can cook. Anyways, I think that as a christian woman we are called to be good hostesses and I really strive to do that to the best of my ability, Then tonight happened.
As a quick recap.....Bobby meet a man a few days ago who needed some change, after getting to know the man for a few minutes, Bobby was struck by the mans life story and decided that we should get involved in his life, Anyone who knows me, knows that that's right up my alley so I was excited to help him, his wife and three kids, the thing is, their homeless. They are staying with family for a minute but it's by no means a permante thing and he is desperately searching for work.
Back to the point of the post, So I began to do what I always do when we have dinner guests and that is to go around the house and clean like a bumblebee, trying to see the house the way a person who has never been here before would see it (that is very depressing btw I don't recommend doing that). As I did my usual of cleaning and scrubbing every thing down and telling the kids to clean their room for the millionth time I was suddenly stuck by a thought that stopped me dead in my tracks. I am trying so hard to make the house clean so that the family feels like honored guests in my home, but what if, instead of feeling honored, they feel like I'm showing off? Don't get me wrong, most of everything we own was either given to us or you can buy yourself at wally world, and the clutter fairy's national headquarters in my master bedroom. (you think I'm joking) but still, God has blessed us with awesome gifts.What if I made them feel awkward instead of honored? So then I was stuck. I mean you can't exactly tell the family, "hey feel honored, I want you to feel special" or "Hey I go this OCD for every dinner guest we have over" or "We heart homeless people" but then again they were coming over in less than 4 hours when I had this conflicting head argument. I really didn't have time to shove everything nice we owned into the attic. Nor do I think that I could have played off the surprised deer caught in the headlights look I was sure to get by Bobby if he brought the family over just to walk into a house where it looked like a scene from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
Paul said he became like all men to witness to all men. I get that. Back when I was a teen and I invited friends to a brick and mortar church, if they were grunge I would wear grunge that Sunday, if the girl only had jeans and a nice shirt, I would wear jeans and a nice shirt, I would dress candy if I had a candy kid come with me, (If I lost you at this point you may google candy kid after you finish reading this post and I won't think any less of you), anyways you get the picture. not to put on a front but to help them not feel like they were going to stand out in a crowd, because I don't care. I'll look like a freak, idiot, or whatever if it makes you more comfortable. But how do you do that when God has given soo much to me and my household?? How do you offer hospitality without looking like a showoff?
Post your comments about what you would have done or what I shoulda done, and I'll write a follow up post later on.... the rest of the story......
3 comments:
I have read this post about ten times so far... mostly because I am struggling with something similar.
I gather with a group of new believers who are mostly living on or very close to the streets. We spend time together in the public square downtown or in the parks or in yards people allow us to use, and in winter weather we borrow space in a church basement for Sunday breakfast.
I love to cook and bake, and always take food to share. But at the same time I'd love for my family members (for so they have become to me) to feel free to drop in at my place anytime, for coffee or meals or whatever. There are a very few who do, but it seems like the rest are too uncomfortable to come.
We have a small place (900 sq ft) and simple furnishings and simple life ... but compared to where they are at, I sometimes wonder some of the same things you talk about in this post.
Sometimes I feel like I'd just like to give it all away, and live downtown in one of the low-end hotel rooms! But I'm not at all sure that that's the answer. (Not to mention that my hubby would not be very pleased...)
Anyway, thanks for this post, and I'm looking forward to you posting the rest of the story!
Norma, you are awesome! thanks for reading. really.
yo, so I'm still waiting on the rest of the story :-)
Post a Comment