Hospitality Tidbits
Oh, how I love to entertain guests in my home! Whether that be for an evening or a weekend or several days. I like to set a lovely table with a special table cloth, linen napkins, place mats, and chargers. I usually get out my special occasion silver wear and fancy plates for my guests at a meal. But fancy doesn’t have to mean expensive. The set I use most I purchased from marketplace. I paid a very reasonable price for a service of twelve. It had serving bowls and a full tea set of cups, saucers, creamer and sugar bowl. It also had two different size platters and a gravy boat. It is just a matter of searching for the right set at the right price. These treasures can also come from a local flea market, second hand store or garage sale. Remember… fancy doesn’t mean costly!
The same can be said for the table scape. An inexpensive table cloth and some place mats and chargers from a local dollar store are just perfect! You can always paint the chargers to match your décor. Consider using bandanas as napkins. I found some adorable bandanas at a local crafting store for a dollar a piece. They have cherries on them which fit in with my summer décor beautifully. They are larger than traditional linen napkins and they come in a wide variety of patterns. You can also customize the number of napkins you will need by getting them individually. It adds the perfect touch to your table.
If you are having overnight or weekend company, there is a lovely way to make them feel welcomed and comfortable without breaking the bank. Whether or not you have an actual guest bedroom or a pull-out couch or even an air mattress, you can still welcome your guests with warmth and an extra special touch. Put together a charming basket of essentials and non-essentials for your housemate to enjoy. Fill it with things like a wash cloth, hand towel and bath towel so they don’t have to ask you where to find them in the morning or if they take an evening shower. Perhaps a pair of cozy socks or slippers would be appreciated depending on the weather and time of year. A small hand lotion is a lovely offering to a guest at someone’s home. Be sure to put in a bottle of water and a couple small snacks such as trail mix, peanut butter crackers, nuts, dried fruit, popcorn, etc. Be sure to find out if there are any food allergies before adding in the snacks. The last thing anyone wants is a trip to the emergency room! If your guest has a routine of devotional time, a small seven- or thirty-day devotional book is always a nice touch. Along with this you could incorporate a small notebook or journal with a pen. You also may want to include a note-card with your household Wi-Fi password or any information needed for them to get service to their devices. Additional items might be a sleep mask, make-up remover wipes, hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo and conditioner, razor, toothbrush and paste, etc.
Wherever your guests might be sleeping in your home, be sure they have a lamp near by as well as an extension cord to plug in their phones or other devices. Fluffy pillows and cozy blankets are so appreciated. Some extra luxuries may include having a candle burning in their quarters. Perhaps a radio, tablet, or the ever-popular Alexa playing some lovely restful music. If you wanted to pull out all the stops, you could purchase a plain white robe for them to use while there along with the extra spa type items such as scrubs, lotions, oils, footbaths, or any other pampering’s you could think of. The sky is the limit for ideas. Set yourself a budget for such treats and stick to that budget. You don’t have to have an abundant bank account to have abundant hospitality. It is in the details and intention that your guests will feel your welcoming vibes.
Mornings can consist of ready-made pastries all set out with plates and napkins so when your guests arise, they don’t have to starve while waiting for others to awaken. Have coffee, tea, juice, or water available as well. Fresh fruit such as bananas, apples, oranges, pears, peaches or cherries are a colorful and enjoyable breakfast add on as well. Be sure your guests know where to find what they need or have it setting out already. Things such as forks, spoons, butter knives, mugs or glasses, butter or jams, tea bags, etc. Let your guests know they are welcome to get up whenever they choose and are free to shower, eat, or just laze about.
I want to add here that almost everything mentioned for items to help your guests feel welcomed can be purchased second hand or at a local dollar store. Please don’t feel like if your budget is small that it’s impossible to create a lovely warm inviting space for guests. I think that is one of the biggest misconceptions about hospitality. Sometimes it can feel like if we don’t have that money tree in the back yard then we can’t show abundant hospitality. It’s in our smile, in our heart, and in our warmth. The meal doesn’t have to be any more then a bowl of soup and some bread. It’s all about how we make our guests feel while they are in our home or in our presents.
Jesus always had kindness in His heart when encountering others. This is true hospitality. This is what Jesus asks of us, to show kindness to others. Not to spend a fortune or set out a full-on thanksgiving meal every night. Find what things work for you. Happy inviting!
