Come on In
Have you ever seen Full House? In the TV show, there is a line that the Tanner family is known for, “It’s always open!” Anytime there was a guest, who knocked on the door or rang the doorbell, one of the family members would yell, “It’s always open!”
How crazy is that? Not a lot of people currently would be willing to keep their front door open for anyone to just waltz in, but that is the beauty of the Tanner family. They were willing to keep their door open to anyone who needed to come in, either for advice or just to hang out with the family. Recently I have talked with some new friends an they told me that they can count on one hand how many times they have had people over at their house for anything. THAT IS CRAZY!
As Christians, we are called to be hospitable to others around us.
“The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers”
Literally. think about the root word, hospital. When you go to a hospital, what are you looking for? Help? Guidance? Answers? Think of your house as a home for those in need or spiritually seeking an answer. Your kind act of letting them in, clothing them, or even feeding them will make all the difference.
My goal in life is to follow in Christ’s footsteps and to accept all of those around us with the love of God. When I was growing up, our house was a shelter for “strays.” Now, I know that isn’t the nicest term, but there were people from all backgrounds and ages. Our dad was a huge advocate for helping those that needed the extra help. Some people ask us (kids) if it affected us in any way. Well, of course, it did! As kids, you don’t necessarily like that there is another human in the house demanding your parent’s attention, but now that we are older, we see that instead of the horror that we thought it was, it was great exposure to how Jesus would have handled those situations.
Another way to fill your house with love is just to invite people over to fellowship with you. No one needs to be a long-term guest or anything, but maybe you want to get to know your neighbors better, so you invite them over for dinner or even a movie. That one act can start a chain reaction, and now instead of knowing them as “my neighbors,” you have a relationship, and now you know them as “Linda and Tom.”
Now, does this mean you need to become BEST FRIENDS? No, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a possibility. God wants us to just spread His love in any way we see fit. Welcoming strangers may lead to long-lasting relationships.
“Open heart, Open home”
Make your house a safe place for those who need rest. I have tons of friends now that I would have never met if I did not open my apartment up during college. My roommate and I wanted to have an open-door policy and make our house a haven for those that just wanted to be themselves. When you let people into your home, you are becoming vulnerable and showing the real you.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
I am so thankful for the way I was raised because now I understand why my dad and mom did what they did. They were not only fulfilling the Lord’s will, but they were showing us kids how to make lasting relationships without complaining. Now that doesn’t mean we didn’t complain a little, but we were generous in the end, and we can pass that down to those we affect.
If I hadn’t opened my house to strangers, I would never have met Ryan. Now that we are getting married and our lives are about to change, I look back on how we met and think to myself, “Wow, this would not have gone as well if I was a grouch and didn’t invite people over.” Even though we were young, Ryan and I had an instant connection, and I am thankful that he never stopped coming over. Where would I be now if he did?
Dear Readers, don’t be afraid to let people in to see the real you. Not only will you die bitter and alone, but you will never truly have the long-lasting relationship one needs to survive and thrive. Be weird, be unique, but most of all, be the person God wants you to be.
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Until Next Time,
Peace Out Lovers!
