Five Minute Friday: Seasons of hospitality
My heart warmed when I saw that today’s prompt for Five-Minute Friday was “hospitality.” I’ve written a few posts on the topic in the past, which you can find here.
Being an American in London, I’ve been able to host many a traveler passing through our wonderful capital city. Until some things happened in my family, and we had to pull up the drawbridge for a time. I felt bad when I could tell people were gently inquiring – without asking formally – if they could come and stay, and I didn’t respond with an invitation. And a couple of times I had to flat-out say “no” to the request.
But that was the right answer for that season, and after the tough thing of saying no, I felt relief. After all, exercising boundaries is healthy and good, even if hard. And when I intimated some of the challenges we faced, the people understood.
That season reinforced the notion of loving oneself as well as one’s neighbor, in Jesus’ great commandment. We often focus so much on the latter part of that command that we forget we need to extend hospitality to ourselves too. And, if we have them, to our children – a point that Leslie Verner makes in her lovely book Invited. After all, parents are only really hosting their children for a couple of decades before launching them out into the world.
What’s your approach to hospitality? Have you experienced seasons of openness and seasons of huddling together?
I am taking part in the #fiveminutefriday community. To write your own and link up with the other writers, you can do so here.
Hello! 
For lost dog or feral cat
there’s an open door,
with the calm assurance that
there’s always room for more.
The world out there is dark and cruel,
and small hearts so sadly break;
though this has caused some ridicule
I think it’s no mistake.
If I can give a warm soft place
to a soul in deep despair,
perhaps I’ll earn a special grace
with Jesus in the air.
And my wife thinks she’ll one day see
our home shared by some refugees.
Wonderful poem!
Good morning Amy, an excellent point about offering hospitality to ourselves. Thank you for all you have done to welcome others in, when the season indicated the drawbridge to be down. Writing with you at Five Minute Friday this week. In Christ, Julie
Thanks so much for your hospitable reply, Julie! Every blessing.
Thank you for those blessings. Looking forward to connect again this Friday!
Amy, So happy to see you here at the link up! Love these thoughts on hospitality. It’s so hard to say no, but easier when I recognize that it’s for a season.
So excited for your book baby!!
Great post, Amy. I love being hospitable. Indeed, we’re in a season of it now, as often over the summer, enjoying seeing old friends from as far away as Australia. We also get to meet up again with our US in-laws next week, which we are really looking forward to.
Thanks Sheila! I’m so glad you can be in this season of hospitality. It’s a joy to share our homes with others. Hope your time with your American family is wonderful!
I loved the word prompt too. Such a necessary thing in this world. Thanks for sharing your thought. Blessings to you!
It can be challenging when others seem to expect hospitality (or a level of it that we cannot offer)…..like when you live in the super fun vacation destination:) But, hospitality is a gift. And we all have our limits and necessary boundaries – for all kinds of reasons and seasons.
Amen!
Amy, thanks for your thoughts on hospitality and relating it to the seasons we find ourselves in. It’s so hard to say “no” especially to friends and family, but once we do we find such relief. So happy to be your neighbor on FMF!
I so agree! Thanks so much for popping along, neighbor!