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?
Julie, Kendra, and Kristin
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.
We would love to walk alongside you in encouragement, inspiration, and community. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram as The Ruth Experience or sign up for our monthly newsletter (no spam, ever), here.
We would love to walk alongside you in encouragement, inspiration, and community. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram as The Ruth Experience or sign up for our monthly newsletter (no spam, ever), here.
If you already have one of our books and love them, we'd so appreciate it if you leave a review on Amazon.
We're in this together,
Julie, Kendra, and Kristin
So well said -- thanks for taking the time to write it out! Reminds me to be hospitable wherever I am -- whether it's a smile at the store or letting someone in front of me in traffic. It's all good.... but thank you for living the example!
ReplyDeletethank you, dear Claire.
DeleteWhat a great idea for a book! You know, I have a neighbor who just gets hospitality. Every time I walk into her house, she makes me feel as if she had been waiting all day for me to stop by. So sweet.
ReplyDeleteWow - what a great neighbor and friend! Thanks, Amy
DeleteI think of Thanksgiving as well, when I think of hospitality and being on the receiving end. There are many for me -- because I must just know some really loving people around me.
ReplyDeleteMy mother passed away just before Thanksgiving several years ago and I was on my own. Being single, and working all the time, I either get to share with people at their table, or I'm hanging out at home. I've had the blessing of being asked to come to a Mexican style Thanksgiving, and a couple times, a singles-style where we all brought things and the turkey was sort of Cajun style... and I've been folded into a large family gathering a few times as well. Only once have I been solo on Thanksgiving. What a joy it is to be remembered and included! It gives me a chance to make my favorite mashed potatoes to share (which I can't for my one self. hah!)! Or a chance to bring some pies I love! And to eat with people and talk and enjoy and laugh.... which again, as a single, doesn't happen hardly at all. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for people, and WITH people. It's my favorite. And like I said, I know some really lovely people! The Lord knows exactly what we need, and He sure does know how to provide it. Our part is to open our eyes and look around to see it. It's all around.
One thing that Sue (your guest writer here on the blog today) taught me when I spent time with her in Papua New Guinea, was to take time to go over the day, or an event, and to re-live it and enjoy it. To be thankful for it, and to remember as much of it as possible, to imprint it in your memory. I still try to do that... not to rush from place to place or event, but to savor the moments and memories like delicious dessert. Thanks, Sue!
You're welcome here anytime.
DeleteBeautiful, Sue. The invitation? Simply beautiful. Praising God for Amie's salvation. Thanking Him for your generosity. Visiting today via #tellHisstory.
ReplyDeleteMe, too - thanks, Kristi. Knowing her is a blessing, that's for sure.
DeleteKristi, you were chosen to receive Sue's book!! Would you mind emailing us your contact infomartion at: theruthexperience@hotmail.com and we'll get your copy shipped out to you!
DeleteSue,
ReplyDeleteI love your post and it goes so well with what we're talking about in seminary about the practice of hospitality. Such an important and oft-neglected practice. I felt so welcomed by Karen at our first time at our church as she scheduled a time to have lunch with me and we've clicked and been friends ever since...years ago. I was going through a tough patch and her invitation and friendliness meant so much as we had also recently moved to the area. Blessings :-)
i know from experience I need to schedule hospitality or it can get lost in the shuffle. A sweet testimony, Dolly.
DeleteYour story brought tears. My husband ran into a young mechanic last week; the guy remembered him b/c we used to pick him and his siblings up for kids' club on Wednesday nights. He said he's in a church today because he went with us when he was 4 years old. We haven't seen him for 20 years. I had asked God that morning to give me a "boost" b/c I was discouraged. You said to give an example of when someone was hospitable to me - this is the first thing that came to my mind.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story - we don't always get to hear the results on this side of glory. So encouraging!!
DeleteLove everything about this! Want this book!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie - it's been a labor of love that keeps on going. Head on over to welcomeheart.com if you like. My Bible study on hospitality comes out in two weeks. But more stories in this book. (:
Delete