"Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." Hebrews 13: 1~2
This beautiful verse has always been such a special verse to me! It's a joy for me to entertain others in my home, it's something that I truly cherish and enjoy. I love everything about the process~the guest, the menu, the atmosphere that I hope to create, the dishes I will serve, the colors, the flowers, the tablecloth, and most important the love that I hope to share with our guest.
This gift of sharing ones home is hospitality, which literally refers to opening one's home to traveling strangers who can share in your life. Many times these "strangers" bring unexpected joys and blessings. It's a way of ministering to those we care about and hope to bless with encouragement and a meal we've prepared for their journey in life!
Thanksgiving is a special time for our family because it represents a time of gathering together and giving thanks for all the blessings~big and small~in the past year. The food is always wonderful, but just being together truly is what a Thanksgiving meal should be about. Who will be at your Thanksgiving table? Think for a minute about the ones you are expecting? They could be your family members that you see everyday and just cooking the meal and serving it will be the big part of your day.....but as the family grows and others are gathered into your circle, sometimes there are "strangers" or a softer way of putting it (people we don't know so well). It could be a family member. It could be someone you've not really taken the time to listen to or care about as fully you or I could have. As we enter this season of thankfulness, hopefully, we can begin preparing by focusing on Our Lord and His love for me and for you. I hope that we can center our hearts in His and truly be cleansed of all unrighteousness. Then, perhaps, we will be ready to entertain strangers and our family and be given FULLY to hospitality.
