Hospitality: the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way
Throughout the years, we have often had people in our home, many whom we did not know. Some have come for a meal; some have stayed a night or two or longer; all have been blessings. That is not to say it has always been easy. It is to say that through each experience, the Lord taught us many things as our family has served together.
We always believed that homeschooling was a great way to teach our children not just academics but also godly character–including having good etiquette and being hospitable—both of which are major aspects of the character quality of honor (regarding one another as more important than yourself – Philippians 2:3 NKJV). Practicing hospitality allowed our children great opportunities to participate in service to others and to learn to put the needs of others before their own desires. They were able to meet and know people who had lived in many different places and had had very different experiences from their own.
If you have never practiced hospitality, do not feel overwhelmed. Start small. Let your children invite friends home with them and be sure to teach them to be good hosts, considering the needs of their guests. Have a family over for dinner or dessert and let your children help make the food, set the table, serve the company, and clean the kitchen.
On top of learning to honor others, who would want to miss the potential opportunity to entertain some angels?
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Heb 13:2)
