by Emma Wyatt<\/p>\n
When I was newlywed, my husband asked if we could invite the visiting preacher over for supper one night. I panicked. I said no. I had just barely learned to cook. And everyone knows the only appropriate meal to feed a preacher is a pot roast, right? I didn’t know how to cook one of those, and even if I did, we couldn’t afford one. My house was tiny, the furniture hand me down, and my confidence lacking. Our table could sit 3 comfortably and 4 in a squeeze. Oh, and did I mention our table also doubled as all my counter space? Sam was disappointed, but he let it go.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Hospitality2-300x200.jpg\")
Eventually, he asked again. This time, I gave in. I was only slightly less intimidated this time because the visiting preacher has specifically requested “a light meal”. I made soup and cut up a cantaloupe. Guess what! The soup was gratefully eaten. My tiny house was complimented. My hospitality was appreciated.<\/p>\n
I didn’t grow up in a community of hospitality. My family didn’t really invite people over. This was a new and somewhat scary world I was thrown into as a newlywed. It was something I wanted to engage in, but I had my own perspective of what was expected: big house – big meal – nice furniture – hostess with great conversation skills. I had exactly zero of four of these necessary qualities.<\/p>\n
Eleven years, a bigger house, nicer furniture, and more room around the table later, I’ve figured something out: People don’t care. Someone will always have a more comfortable home for hosting. Someone will always be a better cook. Someone will always have nicer furniture and a bigger table. People care that you cared enough about them to extend an invitation. And you know what? I have never cooked a pot roast for company! I’ve made brisket, fried chicken, enchiladas, homemade pizza, and lasagna. But I’ve also made hot dogs, cold cut sandwiches, store-bought pizza, and even just served store-bought ice cream and called it supper. Hint: it doesn’t matter what you serve or if you can cook. What matters is, you can open up your home, you can open up your life to someone else.<\/p>\n
I’d still like my home to be perfect for company. But with four kids, fat chance of that happening in the next ten years. So, I could wait ten years, or I can do the best with what I have. I think I’d much rather be cultivating relationships in my home now than waiting until everything is just right. So, if you come over this next month, my flooring project may or may not be totally completed. And I can pretty much guarantee that my front door handle will fall off from the inside. I may also burn supper. And there’s a good chance I’ll forget all about making dessert. But, I’ll enjoy your company, and I hope you’ll enjoy mine.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Emma Wyatt When I was newlywed, my husband asked if we could invite the visiting preacher over for supper one night. I panicked. I said no. I had just barely learned to cook. And everyone knows the only appropriate meal to feed a preacher is a pot roast, right? I didn’t know how to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1149,82],"class_list":["post-54087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-hospitality","tag-womens-roles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56296,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/for-the-love-of-money\/","url_meta":{"origin":54087,"position":0},"title":"For the Love of Money","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 26, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Paul warned that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (I Timothy 6:10). Because of the desire for wealth, Satan has pulled many Christians away from their service to God. Yet, the desire for easy money has led to the church\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22060,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-should-a-congregation-go-about-selecting-another-preacher\/","url_meta":{"origin":54087,"position":1},"title":"How should a congregation go about selecting another preacher?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was wondering if I could get your advice on selecting a pulpit minister. Our minister stepped down due to fleshly and worldly desires, like Demas \"having loved this present world.\" We have an interim minister at this time. We have other ministers who sent resumes but didn't have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54803,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/aged-preachers-seeking-an-answer\/","url_meta":{"origin":54087,"position":2},"title":"Aged Preachers \u2013 “Seeking an Answer”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Travis Main via\u00a0Church of Christ Articles Baptisms and burials: over a lifetime, the preacher performed a great number of these.\u00a0 From Genesis to Revelation, his words carefully uttered the precepts of God.\u00a0 His hair was once full, and his face youthfully smooth.\u00a0 Now his hair sports only grey, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/elderlyMan-150x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":84088,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/gospel-preachers-the-whipping-boy\/","url_meta":{"origin":54087,"position":3},"title":"Gospel Preachers: The “Whipping Boy”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ken Thomas via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 14, No. 3, September 30, 1988 I started to call this article, \"Open Season on Preachers.\" Another title I thought of was \"Preachers Are Fair Game.\" You know already what the general theme of this article will be. While it is altogether possible\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11293,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/shady-lane-the-preacher-and-the-boy\/","url_meta":{"origin":54087,"position":4},"title":"Shady Lane, the Preacher, and the Boy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ken McDaniel via\u00a0Echo of Truth, Vol. 3, No. 29, July 16, 1995 During a recent gospel meeting that I preached, the local evangelist and I went calling on a few individuals in hopes of motivating some to faithfulness and setting up Bible studies with others who have not yet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Two-Men-in-a-Boat-300x239.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":34980,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/so-you-want-to-be-a-preacher\/","url_meta":{"origin":54087,"position":5},"title":"So You Want to be a Preacher?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 3, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant There is no more noble aspiration than to be a servant of the Most High God in seeking the lost and encouraging the saved. 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