Within minutes of sitting down to write this post, I came across the following Bible verse, one I’d never noticed before: “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2, if you’re interested). It got me thinking about my own attitudes toward welcoming others and showing care and concern for my neighbor.
We think of hospitality as a skill, something someone might be good at, something we see Ina Garten doing on TV. But hospitality doesn’t have to mean using the good china or hosting the family Thanksgiving gathering. I think what the verse above is trying to tell us is that simply welcoming others, making them feel at home – wherever we are and whoever they are – is the key to true hospitality. Where do you feel more comfortable: a beautiful but sterile hotel room, or a bustling house full of friends or family?
Making people feel welcomed and appreciated can be as simple as a smile or a hello. The vast majority of the time, we don’t know how someone’s day is going or what’s happening in their life. But we shouldn’t underestimate the power of acknowledging a person, of showing we care, of taking the time to look into someone’s eyes and listen to them.
Sometimes the hardest part of being hospitable, though, isn’t the action itself; it’s the noticing of the person in need. It’s (usually) easy to smile at our friends and spouses and children; maybe not so much for a person who’s homeless on the sidewalk, or a grouchy coworker, or a mother speaking another language as she tries to corral her kids on the playground. The fact remains that these people are our neighbors just as much as anyone else – and maybe even more in need of a simple act of kindness than we could know. Perhaps these people are the angels we will unknowingly entertain.
A few simple ideas to show hospitality:
- Greet service people, like receptionists or cashiers. Take a minute to genuinely ask how their days are going.
- Pay a sincere compliment to someone you see every day at work.
- If you have leftovers from lunch, offer them to a person who could use them.
- Pick up an extra treat, like a coffee or muffin, to share if you’re buying something for yourself.
- Send a friend or family member who’s moved a card or package letting them know you’re thinking of them.
- You might be surprised how many people smile back.
This post was originally written for the blog at Project Giving Kids.org.
bloom. 