Gracious Hearts—Gracious Homes: The Ways of Her Household by Marilyn Rockett | HOMESCHOOLING TODAY Magazine

Welcoming family, friends, and even strangers into our homes is a biblical command, but it can also be one of the great joys in life. We delight in the fellowship, good food, and the lovely attention we receive as guests in a hospitable home. Yet, we often fret and stress over offering the same gracious welcome into our family circle.

Learning and practicing simple entertaining skills improves our desire to receive guests; however, our heart attitude is the key to genuine hospitality. If we are concerned about the impression we make or the adequacy of our home or our cooking skill, we miss God’s point that hospitality is a mark of a godly person (Romans 12:9-13, 1 Timothy 5:9-10, Titus 1:8). True hospitality encompasses who we are, not what we possess.

A Gift to Guests

Think of hospitality as the Lord’s gift to guests through you. Each simple touch you add is like the wrapping and bow around the gift of His special love and your service to guests in your home. As the holidays approach, begin now to prepare for giving the gift of yourself and your home to others.

Involve your children in preparation for guests. The experience trains them to feel comfortable and apply good manners, to learn proper preparations, and to fulfill the biblical command to be hospitable in their future homes.

Extended-stay Guests

When guests stay overnight or longer, small touches say, “Welcome! We are glad you are here.” If you have a guest room, pretend you are a guest and stay in that room yourself one night. Add things to the room you would like to have.

Whether your guest room is a special room or a family member’s room, prepare it before guests arrive:

• Clean the bedroom and bathroom well.
• Put fresh sheets on the bed.
• Use a fresh pillow with a non-plastic pillow cover you can wash with the sheets. (Reserve special pillows for guests.)
• Add an extra blanket or a throw across the bed.
• Clear out a drawer or at least a spot on top of the dresser for your guests’ belongings.
• Place clean bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths in the bedroom (not the bathroom, where family may use them inadvertently).
• Remove a good supply of children’s clothing and toys from the room so guests can have privacy.

These niceties add luxury:

• A luggage rack or something to place luggage on
• An empty drawer and hangers with closet space for their clothes
• Fruit in a pretty bowl or snacks and mints on a tray
• Bottled water or a lovely carafe and cups for water from the faucet
• Fresh flowers—even a small bouquet is delightful
• Fragrance reeds or other light fragrance
• Books, magazines, and/or a Bible on the bedside table
• A reading lamp beside the bed and a nightlight for late-night trips from the bedroom
• An alarm clock or clock radio and a CD player with a few CDs
• Tissues
• A pretty basket of travel-size “extras”: shampoo; new toothbrush; toothpaste; body wash or soaps; lotion; mouthwash; deodorant; disposable razor and shaving cream; nail file; small sewing kit containing small scissors, needles, basic white, black, and beige thread, and pins

The Bathroom

In most homes, guests share the children’s bath. Instruct your children not to use the guests’ towels, to pick up their clothes, flush the toilet after use, and hang up their towels. If you have very young children, consider bringing them into the master bath during the guests’ stay. Pay attention to bathroom needs:

• A fresh roll of toilet paper on the holder with another roll in sight or easy access
• A room deodorizer or spray
• A hook or towel bar reserved for guests’ towels
• A handheld hairdryer
• Body wash or personal-size soaps in shower or tub
• Remove tub toys (unless children are guests)

Dinner Guests

Holidays present occasions to entertain dinner guests or have a party. Don’t attempt a new recipe for the first time! For easy preparation, try these tips:

• Use a checklist to keep you on track.
• Plan simple food prepared ahead and nearly completed by the time guests arrive.
• If preparing a full meal seems overwhelming, fix finger foods or snacks. Guests want to fellowship with you rather than experience a gourmet meal.
• Don’t stress about the house. If the public areas are clean and orderly, your guests will feel comfortable.
• Do as much as possible ahead: clean the day before, send the family around for a quick pickup (including at the front door) one hour before guests arrive, set the table, set out condiments and drink choices, light a candle, and stop to freshen yourself before the doorbell rings. Even if you don’t get everything done, laugh and enjoy your guests!

Develop a heart-eye to see your guests’ needs. Our homes reflect our hearts. When we open our homes to serve others, we please the Lord and give Him glory. If practicing hospitality is new to you, start small, keep things simple, and move forward in faith to accomplish the biblical goal of hospitality.

 

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