Practice Hospitality - Talking to People in the Store

When I go shopping I'm usually on a mission to get in and get out! 

When I stopped at Sam's Club to buy 8 pounds of unsalted butter I was on that mission. Get the butter and get out. I had a lot on my mind as I was getting ready for a party I'm hosting and I had a long list of things to do. Making 4 dozen cupcakes was one of the items on my list.

I got the butter and was heading for the checkout when I remembered I was out of milk so I took a side step to picked up a gallon. That's when an elderly gentleman stopped me and asked me about the milk. Whole, fat-free, 1%, 2%??? He was completely lost. So for 10 minutes we talked about milk. I didn't know that a simple product like milk could be a topic of conversation! 

When we parted company he said to me "thank you for talking to me". 

It was a brief encounter but his words stuck with me all day. 

"Thank you for talking to me." 

I don't know the facts and figures but I read somewhere that loneliness is rampant in our society. Especially in the elderly who are often time widowed and have lost many of their friends. 

Whether this gentleman was lonely or not I'm glad I took a few minutes out of my busy schedule to have a simple conversation about milk.

Do you talk to strangers when you're out and about?

Check out this post for a few ideas for talking and listening to people when you're out and about.

Five Simple Things To Do So You Don't Panic When Unexpected Company Knocks

We've all been there. Unexpected company...

You're lounging around on your day off and the door bell rings.  What do you do? Hide in the back room or begrudgingly answer the door hoping it’s the UPS guy with a package. Would you visit with your guests on the front porch or grab your purse like you're just running out the door?

I could never bring myself to hide from unexpected company but I have been guilty of entertaining them on the front porch a time or two. If I did invite them I’d spend most of the visit apologizing for the messy room or the fact I had nothing to offer in the way of refreshments.

I was convicted that I couldn't leave guests outside on the porch no matter how comfy it was nor spend the time pointing out the reasons I didn't appreciate the unannounced visit. Hey, it wasn't their fault I was still in my pajama or last night pizza box was on the coffee table but apologizing for these things let's your guest know that they came at the wrong time. 

I wanted to graciously welcome people in to my home but I needed a plan. So I came up with five simple things to make it easier to open the door and invite people in. These might help you too!

• Don't get caught with your panties down. In other words I always try to be at least semi presentable when I'm at home. A nice bathrobe comes in handy;)
• Always have at least one clear spot in the house to bring guests. In a perfect world we'd all have formal living rooms that sit idle just waiting for company. We don't live in a perfect world so set aside an area, even just a corner of the couch, and try to keep it picked up. If the house is messy I usually bring my guests to the kitchen table. There may be dirty dishes in the sink (evidence we eat well) but the table is usually cleared and there's a nice view of the backyard

• Keep a few treats tucked away in the freezer. Well wrapped (and hidden from husband and kids) cookies, pound cake and quick bread will keep for several weeks in the freezer. If the freezer's bare a little fruit or even microwave popcorn will do the trick.

A simple plate of apples, golden raisins and almond butter served with a cup of tea
makes a nice snack for your guests.

• Offer coffee, tea or a cool drink. It takes less than five minutes to make coffee or boil water for tea. Homemade lemonade is great but don't discount the value of a cold glass of water. 
• Keep thy mouth shut about the condition of thy house! At times my house is messy. Toys on the floor, magazines and books stacked by the couch, dirty dishes in the sink. These things are all proof that people live here! Real people who can be really messy at times. Believe it or not your unexpected company probably left a messy house to come visit you. Stop apologizing and pay attention and enjoy your guests. 

So next time unexpected guests show up at your door put on a smile, invite them in, offer a little refreshments and a listening ear. That's what they'll remember. Not that they had to step over the laundry basket on the way in the door. 

For a few more ideas on getting and keeping your home clean see this post.

I'm setting another plate at my table and making a place in my heart!

If you stopped by I'd love to hear from you. Leave me a little comment:-)

A Gift of Food and Time

Do you know anyone who is confined to their home due to age or illness?

These people are sometimes referred to as shut-ins and most neighborhoods probably have one or two at least. There may even be one on your street maybe right next door. 

I can't imagine not being able to jump in my car to go shopping or to visit friends. I can't imagine what it would be like to live the life of a shut in. To rely on others to bring me the daily necessities of life or the need to turn on the TV to hear a friendly voice. 

Do you know anyone like this? 

This is the perfect opportunity to practice a little hospitality...

Practice hospitality by sharing your time.

There's a elderly widow who lives near me and I try and drop by once a week for a little visit. She gets her meals from a program called "Meals on Wheels" and although they bring nutritious meals they aren't very inspiring.  I usually bring her a few pieces of fruit and a treat to give her a little something extra. 

Today I gathered bananas and apples, a few of the Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Scones that I made yesterday and a jar of honey. The honey is a special treat. The last time I visited her she talked about how her dad was a beekeeper and he'd let her eat a piece of the honeycomb if she got all her chores done. She said she'd chew it like gum. I knew when I came across this jar of honey with the comb that I had to pick it up for her. 

It doesn't take much to brighten someone's day. Less than $10 in treats and 30 minutes of my time.


Go here to see another time I visited with this same lady.

What can you do to brighten someone's day this week?

Practice Hospitality - #1 - Showing Gratitude

1. The dictionary defines hospitality as:
   

   • the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guest, visitors, or strangers.

   Synonyms: friendliness, warm reception, welcome, helpfulness, neighborliness, warmth, kindness, congeniality.

For Christians it's command that we show hospitality to one another not an option. 

Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

1 Peter 4:9

Do not neglect to show hospitality...

Hebrew 13:2a

Even in the secular world it's just good old common sense to be kind to one another....

 OK, but how?

...practice hospitality...

Romans 12:13a

Yes, we have to practice. 

Hospitality is a skill and like learning any new skill it takes practice before it becomes natural and easy. 

Even though it's now easier for me to invite people over or to be helpful and kind it hasn't always been the case. I've had to do a lot of practicing over the years and I'm still practicing. Like any skill if we don't use it we'll lose it!

Once a week I'm going to post an idea to practice and hone those hospitality skills. Some tasks will be simple and others a little more time consuming. Some will require very little effort such as the task for today. Other tasks may require us to mustard up some courage and step out of our comfort zone.

Want to join me?

#1 Hospitality Skill to Practice 

Be kind by showing gratitude. 

We all have people in our lives who teach, help and encourage us. People who stick by us through thick and thin. The same people we often times take for granted. The assignment for this week is to make a list of at least five people that you want to thank. Write out a short note to each person saying thank you, address it and drop it in the mail. I guarantee that you'll make someone's day.


I've saved just about every thank you note and notes of encouragement that I've received. I keep them in a envelope in the back of my bible. When I'm feeling down or having myself a little pity party I pull them out and reread them. It never fails to lift my spirits to remember that someone took the time to thank me for something I did for them. I show you these not to say "I'm great look what I did" but to show you that a simple thing like a little note can bring joy to someone for many years to come.

I'm not sure if you can see it but the date on the top card is April 2004. I've held on to that for ten years! The lady who wrote that to me has since gone on to be with the Lord but when I read her words it brings back sweet memories. I'm glad that a simple thing I did brought joy to her life. And her note certainly has brought joy to mine.

 My first thank you note will be to my mom. If you have a mom take a minute and send her a thank you note. 


So have fun and practice a little hospitality!

I'm linking up with:
Living From Glory to Glory

Hope in Every Season

Grace at Home