All Because of an Invitation {Guest Post}

Good morning, friends! Today we are so excited to have a guest post from Sue Moore Donaldson. The three of us love hospitality, and Sue's post is such a great reminder on how even something as simple as an invitation truly matters. Here's more from Sue:

“Would you like to come for Thanksgiving?” I asked Amie, a regular customer at our store.

The question hung in silence a little too long for my comfort—2 seconds or so. I rushed on, “We’re kinda loud. We play games. We have lots of food. Really, a lot of food….”

She smiled. “I’m a good cook.  Just made caramel salted brownies. I could bring caramel salted brownies.”

Well, well. My kids don’t like pie. I’ve tried, really. But brownies? Caramel salted?

“You’re in, Amie—you don’t even have to come—just leave the brownies on the porch!”

We laughed and said goodbye.

I didn’t know Amie’s last name or phone number. She didn’t know where we lived. All I knew was that Amie, recently divorced, wasn’t going to have her two little girls on Thanksgiving for the first time ever. And I didn’t want her to be alone.

The night before the big day, I got a text: “50/50 I’m coming.” My sister-in-law said, “Tell her to send the 50.”

The next morning, Amie made brownies and bravely faced our wild clan. Everyone loved her and loved on her. My artist brother gave her a painting. My poet brother gave her a book of poetry. My children fell in love with her brownies.

After the singing and sharing, she pulled me aside and quietly said, “This was the best Thanksgiving in my whole life.”

Really. I said she and her girls and her brownies were always welcome.

Two weeks later, she came to church. Three days later, she came to coffee. At the same table, minus the extra leaf, Amie grabbed my hand and said, “I’m ready,” and prayed to become God’s new child.

A new guest in God’s kingdom. All because of an invitation.

“Want to come for coffee?”

“Can you stop by this week?”

“Would you like to come to church? You can sit with us.”

God’s in the business of filling up all the seats around his table. Who do you know who could use an invitation?

Oswald Chambers wrote: “The questions in life are remarkably few and they are all answered by the words—‘Come unto Me.’” (My Utmost for His Highest, June 11)

Jesus says, “Come to Me” whenever we take the risk to invite another.

“Would you like to come over? We’re normal—well, you know, ordinary—but fun and I think you’d enjoy yourself. We’d love to have you join us. Yes, you can bring your kids and your mother and Aunt Jessie from New York. You don’t have to bring anything but you can if you want.”

Invite someone. The holidays are the perfect time. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be homemade. It’s doesn’t have to be planned in advance or pinned on Pinterest. There’s always room for more.

Maybe the next person you meet needs an invitation to your table. Maybe the next person they meet will be Jesus.

P.S. Amie and girls come most Sundays for chocolate chip pancakes. We look forward to our second Thanksgiving together this year.

Sue's a wife of one man-in-plaid and mom of three daughters--who keep her either at the bank or on her knees. She writes about God’s inviting heart at www.welcomeheart.com. Her book, Come to My Table: God's Hospitality and Yours includes stories, tips and recipes to help you get started inviting the world to your table. She speaks for women's conferences, MOPS, and retreats; series and event topics listed on welcomeheart.com. See and hear a bit of Sue here.

Are you looking for more hospitality resources? Have you checked out our books?

Our newest book, 100 Daily Acts of Friendship for Girls, is written specifically for girls ages 8-12 as they navigate friendships in upper elementary and middle school. With a scripture, short story, reflection questions and 50 fun activities to do with you or friends, it's a wonderful way to encourage your daughter, niece, granddaughter, God daughter and her friends to build healthy friendships from an early age.

And our adult friendship devotional, The One Year Daily Acts of Friendship is a perfect compliment to our book for tweens. With a daily scripture, story, and friendship prompt, its encouraging and slightly challenging (in a good way!) as you find, keep, and love your friends.   

We've also written two kindness devotionals, The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness and 100 Days of Kindness. They tell the story of how our families embarked on a one-year journey of kindness, and include our successes, failures, and the encouragement you need as a family to incorporate kindness into your own life.

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We're in this together,

Julie, Kendra, and Kristin