How to be Hospitable With Less Stress: 10 Easy Ways
Snow still lingered in the spruce boughs when we went to her house for an Easter crafting party. Her idea was to help the kids make colorful bath bombs using a recipe from Pinterest and dozens of pastel plastic Easter eggs. She had no idea, but she was teaching me how to be hospitable on a very practical and imperfect level.
We piled through the door in our winter boots, and she waved her arm in a welcoming gesture as the kids threw their coats in a pile on the floor.
That afternoon, three moms began the patience-testing task of helping seven little ones measure perfect portions of corn starch, Epsom salt, and a long list of ingredients into buckets for our homemade bath bombs.
By the time we finished the project, the house smelled of lavender and citrus, and my dear friend’s entire dining area was covered in aromatic white powder.
It was a mess, but if I’d ever seen a beautiful mess, there was something undeniably beautiful about the entire afternoon.
Reflecting on it months later, I believe the beauty of the day stems from the fact that this friend is unswerving in her commitment to hospitality.
She invites us for family birthday parties, Sunday afternoon potlucks, and random dinners when I simply text to say I’ve had a bad day. Her door is unconditionally open, and she has never once tried to be someone other than the gracious and imperfect woman God created her to be.
How to Be Hospitable With Less Stress
Possibly the most welcoming aspect of her hospitable spirit is the very thing that keeps most of us from opening our hearts and homes to others more often: Imperfection.
We tell ourselves we’ll invite the neighbors for dinner when the clutter finally finds a home.
We insist we’ll host a potluck with our friends when none of the kids have colds. Some of us watch the weather and tell ourselves we’ll plan a picnic when there’s a zero percent chance of rain for the entire weekend of the picnic.
My friend with the imperfect and hospitable spirit is teaching me something about hospitality: If we wait for everything to be perfect, we will never open our hearts or homes to others. More than this, it is my friend’s willingness to humble herself and let others see her imperfections that makes her home a warm and inviting place.
There are always toys on the floor, dishes in the sink, and piles of mail on the counter.
Her house is lived in, and it shows. Her willingness to let us step into her actual life opens our hearts to be real about our actual lives when we visit her home.
We feel safe, and we know we are valued for who we are and not the masks we wear.
Low-Stress Hospitality
Inspired by the attitude of my friend, here are ten ideas to help you, as you learn how to be hospitable in your life:
1. Plan a backyard picnic, and don’t stress about the weather.
Several years ago, we planned a large backyard picnic as a going-away celebration for close friends who were leaving the country for the year. After several days of checking the forecast every four hours, I finally decided to relax and trust God with the forecast.
When the day of the picnic arrived, we enjoyed about an hour of sunshine before a torrential downpour dispersed the crowd.
About half of the 80 people went home, and the other half squeezed into our small home. The floors got a bit muddy, and the day was anything but picturesque, but it was perfect in its own way. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
2. Serve hotdogs and a smile.
Some of us hesitate to invite friends into our homes because we’re waiting for the perfect menu plan or the financial means.
Hospitality is an opportunity to welcome others into our lives. Don’t worry about a perfect menu. Plan a bonfire and spend less than ten dollars on hotdogs and simple snacks.
3. Consider the new family in town, at church, or at work.
Those of us who have had the joy of moving to a new location, starting a new job, or attending a new church understand how difficult it can be to build a community and make friends.
Take the first step and invite the new family to your home for a simple meal.
Don’t stress about details.
Make it a pizza party, cookout, or dessert evening if you want to keep it simple. What matters most is that you simply reach out.
4. Offer hospitality with less stress by serving soup.
When it comes to hosting a lunch or dinner party, soup can be an easy and frugal way to feed a crowd.
Invite a few families to your house for a Saturday evening chili or chicken soup gathering. Click on the link at the bottom of the page for five simple and delicious soup recipes to feed a crowd.
5. Host a potluck.
Potlucks are great because people like to feel like they are contributing. Potlucks also take some of the meal prep pressure off of the host. Host a potluck and provide paper plates, napkins, and plastic ware.
6. Host a Bible study or start a book club weekly in your home.
Grab a good book or use the Good Book, and invite friends to join you for a study!
7. Take turns inviting different families over for weekly Friday night pizza parties.
Friday night is a good night for relaxing with friends. Invite everyone to chip in and order pizza. Play games, watch a movie, or relax and talk.
8. Mentor someone in the one-on-one setting of your home.
Consider inviting someone a bit younger into your home. Establish a mentorship in which you share your heart and encourage this younger person regularly.
9. Embrace hospitality with less stress by enjoying a shared activity.
Find a group of people with a common interest and gather regularly to pursue it: hike, play volleyball, craft, scrapbook, bake, or jog. If your activity requires leaving your home, plan to meet at your home and offer additional fellowship time when you return.
10. Stay plugged into your kids’ lives by inviting their friends into your home.
Your kids’ friends will probably make your house noisy and messy. Nevertheless, invite them into your home. They need a safe space to hang out. Your home doesn’t have to be huge or elaborate. Be the safe space for your kids’ friends.
Above all else, hospitality involves letting others into our lives. The point of hospitality isn’t perfection; it’s community. #Christianhospitality #hospitality Click To Tweet
We weren’t made to do life alone.
Every time you open your heart and life to someone else, you extend hospitality. This can happen in a coffee shop, grocery store checkout aisle, or office lunchroom. What matters most is that we let others see our true selves and offer a safe place to share life’s ups and downs.
A Complete Toolkit for Hospitality With Less Stress
I have a gift for you today. Hospitality without Perfection is my free toolkit just for you. Your toolkit includes twenty easy ideas to help you learn how to be hospitable in your life, links to easy soup recipes, sandwich recipes, desserts, backyard games, crafts, family-friendly movies, and more. You’ll be asked for your name and email address and will immediately receive your free download.
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