Biblical Hospitality with Guest Ruth Schwenk
Toward the beginning of our book of study A Life That Says Welcome, (on page 35 to be exact) I talk about many biblical examples of hospitality. Today’s guest leads us through unpacking one of the great examples from the pages of scripture, Abraham.
Meet my awesome friend and clever mom, Ruth Schwenk!
Like you, Ruth wears many hats! She is the wife of a pastor, who is her best friend and the love of her life.
She is a blessed homeschooling mother to her four beautiful children, and she eagerly waits meeting her five others in heaven. Ruth is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. She has a passion for following God, leading worship, rescuing orphans, and inspiring others to create a God-honoring family.
On August 1st, 2011, Ruth launched The Better Mom . It is a site dedicated to moms who want to be better moms by sharing life and learning together, to the glory of God.
Most days, the thought of opening our house to people takes a back seat to the task of keeping our house in one piece. Hospitality? Like most moms, the thought is almost humorous!
I have always been a “people person”. Then I had 4 children and I had a house full of people all the time! I was constantly entertaining. ;) My zeal for hospitality was lost to survival.
Whether you are a mom or not, we all have so much stuff that is filling our lives that finding room for hospitality is nearly impossible.
One of the first acts of hospitality in the Bible is described in the Old Testament book of Genesis. We often think of Abraham as the father of faith, but he should also be highly regarded as the father of hospitality. Both he and his wife Sarah demonstrate for us a great picture of the hospitable family. Genesis 18:1-5 says,
“The LORD appeared to Abraham near the
great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent
in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing
nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to
meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor
in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and
rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be
refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your
servant.”
Hospitality is not only important for me personally, but it is also important for our family. As a mom, I want my children to understand the need to sacrificially give our lives to encourage and inspire others. Like anything, this must be intentionally taught and demonstrated to have lasting impact.
Following are three things we learn from the story of Abraham’s example of hospitality. They are also great reminders of how to teach hospitality to our children.
1. Abraham WELCOMED his guests – He had eyes for those who were in need. Abraham did not wait for a need to be known. He initiated an invitation. Helping our children learn hospitality means helping them see the needs of others.
2. Abraham SERVED his guests – True hospitality always has our guests on display, not our home. We are not the center, but our guests are. Helping our children learn hospitality means teaching them that our guests are the center of our attention when we invite them in.
3. Abraham REFRESHED his guests – He was focused on refreshing, not impressing. Helping our children learn hospitality means teaching them to see that we desire to see people leave more encouraged, strengthened, and refreshed then when they came.
I encourage you today, no matter how busy you are, to sit down with your family and take a look at your calendar. Make a list of friends and families that you are going to invite in to your home, and put it on the schedule! And don’t forget…get your children involved in helping plan, prepare, and welcoming your guests in.
***************************
I have a FANTASTIC giveaway to add a little warmth to your entertaining!! This adorable Ladybug Teapot, and 2 Ladybug Mugs from Pumpkin Seed Press!
Pumpkin Seed Press publishes and carries fantastic mentoring and character training materials and products!
To enter the giveaway leave a comment below and tell me one thing you do to make your guests feel especially welcome.
Thank you so much for letting me share in this hospitality series with you all!
I would love for you to join me over at The Better Mom, where thousands of mom gather to learn and grow every day!
My favorite thing when we have friends or family in our home is cook their favorite meal. Cooking brings joy as a way to satisfy hunger and opening up conversation :-)
I live in the south – so normally it’s to offer them sweet tea. – If they have children I make sure to have stuff for them to do – craft stuff or toys out so they feel welcome too. I hate being somewhere and feeling like they really don’t want my kids around.
tell me one thing you do to make your guests feel especially welcome.-
i listen ~
i provide a peaceful setting, tea or bev of their choice and then i listen ~ ministry of presence . . .
i have an ongoing page of ‘hospitali-tea’ at the Faith Hope & Cherrytea blog if you’d like to stop by ;) Welcome !
TY for this totally cool teaset! great conversation starter ‘ ‘ )
and great generosity !
I tell my guests to make themselves at home and make sure they do, so when they come back it will just be natural for them.
I try to play ahead and find out likes and dislikes. I also talk with parents in advance, knowing what Suzi likes today might be yuk tomorrow and let the know that there are alternatives (pbj, Mac n cheese, bowl of cereal) available for picky eaters with their permission. This helps relive embarrassment when the little one looks you in the eye and says, “my mommy is a better cooker than you!”
We had a goodie drawer when my son was little, all of his friends knew that they were welcome to have a treat and get a drink box from the frig.
I will treat anyone coming in my home as my neighbours so just like my family. Always sharing whatever we have in the home even if this is valuable to us. It makes me feel hapPy
To do my best fOr them!also i love to bake and make them like my testers!
I like to have something age appropriate and entertaining for children that are not close in age to my own. It helps moms be able to relax ans enjoy the visit.
All of these comments and this study and have really made me think more about how others show hospitality and how I do. We are all different and all of my friends are different, but it is so exciting and such a blessing how God uses us and our gifts in different ways. I have friends that are still getting the meal together and we just all jump in a help and laugh and work in the kitchen. I have other friends who are so prepared and so together but it feels so nice and welcoming because it is peaceful and we can start visiting, etc. I tend to not be very confident so I try to prepare well ahead of time but sometimes that is the obstacle that stands in my way to inviting others over! I do like to know what others enjoy and like so I can have it for them. One little tidbit I learned many years ago from one couple we are friends with is that if I make biscuits with the meal, my friend’s husband loves jelly on his biscuit! So every time I have them over and I have biscuits, I always have the jelly on the table. He loves that I always remember that!
If I am having an out of town guest spend the weekend I make sure to stock up on little travel goodies like mouthwash and lotion for them….if I am inviting a friend over for tea, I have a variety of teas on hand they can choose from!
I try to always bake something ahead of time that I know they especially like just to send home with them. I try for something sized for their family and that can be frozen if they won’t eat it right away. My daughter is 13 and I am working with her to prepare her to be a hospitable woman :-) If I win the tea pot, I will gift it to her to start a collection of items for her home someday!
I always try to have something chocolate on hand :)
If we have overnight guests I put a selection of books or magazines that we already have that I think they will like in their room.
If our company is just coming for supper I try to have as much of the prep done as possible so that it is clear we are eager to have them here and to VISIT with them, not just me hide in the kitchen making supper.
This is simple, but we try to find out what they like to drink and have it on hand. Takes a bit of effort since we’re pretty much water and lemonade people, but we want everyone to be comfortable.
We have friends over almost weekly. We always ask what foods and drinks they prefer. When people are in from out of town, we plan ahead with what they want to do, I always wash sheets and towls that day so they smell fresh. When our guest leave we always walk them to their car and send them off with a big smile and hug!
A welcome hug greets our guests at the door. An offer of refreshment follows. ( I try to keep snacks suitable for little ones on hand- juice boxes, pb crackers, etc.) And most importantly, we turn off distractions (tv, video games, etc.) We want our guests to know that we are glad they stopped by.
As soon as they arrive, I check to see if they need anything (drink, help w/bags, food, etc.)
I take a picture of us together and then send them a copy. It shows I valued their visit enough to document it.
I try to prepare as much of the meals as possible so that I don’t have to do a lot cooking while my company is my house so that I can spend more time visiting.
I like to burn candles & play worship music .
I need to be more intentional in making my guest feel welcomed. We always open our home and feel hospitable but the extra miles details are probably fewer than should be. We light candles unless our allergic friend is over, we fold the toilet paper to a point even if only the first person sees it, we put out clean hand towels which is a big deal when guest are using the kiddos bathrooms, we play soft music in the background, fix our guests drinks for them…the main thing I think our family is good at is making people feel like our home is their home. We’ve had people grab a banana off the counter and start munching without realizing it….I love that…that they feel at home enough with us to do that!
I want to change my heart towards my guests – not tolerating their presence, but serving, encouraging, and “Christ-loving” them. Thanks for reminders…
I like to always make sure my guests have something to eat whether they came to visit for 5 minutes for a few hours- whether it’s a casual visit or a specific gathering guests always seem to love to be fed and given a good cup of coffee or tea!
When guests are unexpected, they seem to really love the fact that I’ll go out of my way to make them something to eat or even give them leftovers. :o)
I always have coffee, tea and a fresh baked sweet of some sort when I am hosting people in my home. The coffee and sweets also work to make my home smell sooo good!!
To make my guests feel welcome, our whole family of 6 run to the door to personally welcome the guests. We greet them with smiles, and hugs!