As a new mother, I was on the receiving end of some really sweet encouragement.  I remember the feelings of gratitude, of wanting to pay it forward- and I remember how hard it was to do much of anything, beyond taking care of my baby at that time.  

Shortly after we were married, my husband and I moved hundreds of miles away from our hometown to go to college.  We were strangers to nearly everyone in our new town. Not long after arriving, we ended up going to a church where we were warmly welcomed and shown what Christian hospitality is all about.

Afternoon tea.  You don’t have to be British and you don’t have to be a six-year-old girl to have fun with this idea.  Hosting an afternoon tea is a sweet way to let your girlfriends know you appreciate them.  

When we think about preparing our homes for guests, I think a good question to ask is,

“What can we do to make people feel honored and loved?”

Doing what we can to make other people feel loved is the heart of hospitality. 

Over the next few weeks on this blog, we’ll explore different ways to connect with other people and welcome them into our homes and lives.  These types of efforts are often rewarded by stronger community bonds and new friendships.  Those are wonderful blessings: good for your heart, mind, and soul.  But as Christians, there’s another, more important reason behind our desire to love our neighbors