Our Deidra hosted Jumping Tandem: The Retreat just a week ago {you can read her recap of the weekend here}, and we have been cheering for her and praying as she’s processed all that God has done through her beautiful obedience. Today we’d love for you to read her words, originally posted here at (in)courage in 2011 but still so wonderfully relevant.
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Through the window, I can see a steady stream of traffic on the highway. It’s a mile away from where I sit, but this is Nebraska and there is rarely anything out here on The Great Plains to block your view, unless it’s something you put there yourself. You’d think the traffic on the highway would be a nuisance, but it is strangely hypnotic and I have to discipline myself to keep from making up a story for every driver in every vehicle I see driving by.
Just outside the window, hanging above a white picket fence, two goldfinch land on the bird feeder. I can’t hear them from where I sit barefoot at the kitchen table, but one of them is definitely the bossy one. The bossy bird perches herself up above the other one and arches her body downward while she keeps a tight grip on the perch. She gets all up in the face of the other bird and squawks — her pointy beak just millimeters from the bird below her. I watch the little bird on the perch below and I don’t see a feather ruffle. Cool bird.
I pour myself another glass of lemonade and look across the table at my friend. She is smart and talented in a Proverbs 31 way, but it doesn’t make me feel like I belong on a perch beneath her. She makes me wish I lived in the house next door instead of an hour’s drive north on that highway I can see outside her kitchen window. She talks about God and He makes her eyes light up. I want some of what she has, and I don’t just mean her recipe for homemade lemonade.
“I’m so glad you wore shorts,” she said when she answered the door. No fanciness. No pretense. Just a warm welcome of me, exactly as I was. Exactly as I am.
It wasn’t long before I’d kicked off my shoes, too. Now, I sat barefoot at the kitchen table, drinking homemade lemonade, the gleeful recipient of the gift of hospitality.
It is a gift.
I’m often on the other side of this picture. “I love having people in my house,” I say. I love the cooking and the welcoming and the serving and creating space for someone else to catch their breath. And sometimes, I forget the gift goes both ways.
How about you? Are you usually on the giving side of hospitality, or the receiving side? And also? Do you have a killer lemonade recipe?
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Deidra,
I don’t know what I look like when I talk about God…I’ve never seen myself in a mirror. But, oh how I pray that my face lights up when I talk about my Lord and Savior. I pray that my life will be just one big directional arrow pointing to Him. Your post is the prayer of my heart. My soul resonates with yours today. Maybe I can pick up a killer lemonade recipe in the comments to come…
Blessings,
Bev
Nancy Ruegg says
Bev, I am SURE your face lights up when you talk about Jesus. I see the glow in your photo! 🙂 P.S. Played the piano for TWO hours with my dad at his nursing home over the weekend. Precious and priceless.
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Nancy,
How wonderful and what a special time to share with your dad! I go in spurts and have not played for awhile, but told my mom that I had begun plunking away at the keys again. She was really excited and said her wish is for me to play the piano at Christmas so we can all sing carols together. She is 81…so I have that as my goal. Thanks for your encouragement…I needed it!
Bev xx
Kelli Smith Allen says
We love having people over to our home. I’ve been dealing with health issues lately and haven’t had company for meals as much as I’d like. We typically try to keep lemonade on hand though to offer guests. Here’s the recipe we use: 5 C of hot water to 2 1/2 C sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Heat water on stove, if necessary. Add 2 1/2 C lemon juice and 9 C. cold water to that. We chop up strawberries to add to it. Simply refreshing and pretty!
Nancy Ruegg says
Love the idea of adding strawberries! Thanks for sharing, Kelli!
Amanda says
Deidra,
What a beautifully written piece! Thank you for Sharing! How true! It is a gift to give AND also to receive! (I often have a hard time receiving..) Recently, I’ve been finding myself asking God what is His purpose for me, what is it that He wants me to do with this beautiful life He has given us. After reading your post, I was inspired to I read Proverbs 31 and it just warmed my heart! To be that kind of woman would be such a blessing from God. I pray to have that kind of heart and spirit for my family and the people near to me! Thank you again for sharing! You and your dear friend will be in my thoughts today!
Blessings & Be well!
Amanda
JeanneTakenaka says
Deidra, I love your words here. I love to have a no-pretense place for others to visit. Piles on the countertops are not uncommon. 🙂 Thanks so much for the reminder that it’s not perfection that others seek, so much as it is a place to relax and be themselves.
In our busy season of life, I have been woefully lacking in having people over to our house. And, maybe it’s big city living, but we haven’t been invited over to others’ homes recently either. Honestly? I’m missing that time of unforced fellowship. Your post, and questions, have me thinking it’s time to change that.
By the way, I so appreciated your words over at Ann Voskamp’s place today. Thank you for sharing them.
cathy says
Jeanne, this busy time of life is a great reason to connect with others regularly!
Put it on the calendar, months in advance if that helps keep your time open and available.
Everyone has to eat dinner, or breakfast or lunch…add them to your meal that day
or invite them for the next day or next week. Got a recipe you want to try? Invite her/them over to share. As the weather gets nicer to be outside, have a friend or a family over for games or prayer or s’mores. When our goal is to simply love on people, the catalyst can be easy. Think “how can I love on my friend(s).
Sometimes our greatest enemy is time. Then, again, time together is a victory!
Just do it!!!!
Nancy Ruegg says
I, too, want to thank you, Deidra, for the reminder that gracious, casual hospitality is the kind most people appreciate. And a gracious, unstuffy guest is most welcome by the host!
cathy says
I love, love, love having people in our home! I love ministering to all of who they are- body, soul and spirit. I believe our home is a respite for some, a safe-house for others and a place of growth for others. I am so grateful that the Lord has given me so many opportunities to share my home, my time, this space with others. Policy around here is “knock and walk”. C’mon over, kick your shoes off and let’s be US. You be You. I’ll be me. Let’s dedicate this time to healing, helping, sharing, caring & loving. Yes, deep loving. Hospitality goes two ways. Sometimes we need it, sometimes we give it. And I love giving it!
Beth Williams says
Deidra,
I am usually on the receiving side of hospitality–because like you I live in the country. My hubby and I are introverts liking more alone time.
I wish to talk more about God and His goodness. Wanting to be a local missionary so bad. I would love to help build houses, cook meals, raise funds, etc. for the locals in this area. That is on my heart and has been for almost a year now.
Beth Williams says
Thanks for sharing your post again Deidra! It speaks volumes to who you are and what God wants for all of us. He wants community! For us to share what we have with others!