I’m trying something new this week. I’m joining in on Velvet Ashes Friday’s “The Grove”. This week the topic is hospitality.

I’ve never felt like I’ve excelled at hospitality. I’ve had to learn how to host parties and I’m not so good when unexpected circumstances are thrown my way. Ask my husband about the time we had invited the staff at school to an end-of-the-year party in our home. Literally, a few hours before they were to arrive I had to call the exterminator. Gathered around a large rectangular ceiling light were thousands of tiny termites…with wings. Did you know they could fly? I panicked. He stepped in and had all the tables moved outside. The party became a total outside only party. He’s my hero. Oh and the pesky bugs were taken care of the next day and all went back to normal.

After reading this post a light came on. Hospitality is not just about hosting dinner parties or having guests over for Kaffee und Kuchen. It’s about treating others in a kind and loving way. Duh! I “feel” THAT hospitality quite often from people around me. 

I traveled down memory lane to the many moves we’ve had in the last fifteen years of marriage, the difficult pregnancies, the “stormy diagnosis months“, and the “just because we thought of you” times in our lives. The people that I’ve met at various stages in my life and the friendships gained have been great – but I’m so thankful and feeling so blessed by the hospitality offered. You know who you are….

~ the family that let me live with them for a month so I could be near the hospital when I was pregnant with my oldest. (premie baby)

~ the couple who let me invade their apartment with my almost two year old due to another pregnancy issue.

~ the young couple who offered to watch our two children right after Jie Jie was diagnosed and using the feeding tube so that we could get away for our fifth year anniversary.

~ the two single ladies who watched our two oldest children so that we could travel to pick up our third from the orphanage – and how they helped our son make a “Welcome Home” sign for the door.

~ the lady (boss’s wife) who unpacked my kitchen and organized it for me while I went shopping for furniture.

~ the friend who watched my three little ones so I could attend a ladies conference.

~ that family that brought us homemade enchiladas and mango ice when Jie Jie was in the hospital for a week. Plus they picked up our other two from school!

~ that friend who brought by a huge stuffed Monkey for Jie Jie the other time she was in the hospital, so she wouldn’t be alone.Then sat with her so that I could slip out for a quick walk and use the bathroom.

~ that family that gave us their van for the summer to use because ours had no air-con.

~ that friend who read about fast-food being my BFF while we were changing apartments – so she brought over a huge fresh salad with so many toppings. It was truly the best!

~ that lady from church that we had just briefly met offering us to use their yard while they were away for the summer so our kids could play and we could enjoy private outdoor space.

This is hospitality…treating others in a kind and loving way. It’s like the homemade ice-cream that tops the blackberry cobbler that my mother lovingly makes each time we are back for a visit. Hospitality is sweet. It’s special. It’s given.

So, thank you to everyone who has helped me pack, move in, invited our “circus family” to your home. We have truly been blessed. I know I didn’t write every single thing, because well…you’d be reading for a few days if I listed it all….

Your Turn: How have you been blessed by hospitality from others? Share your blessing in the comment below.