"Be hospitable to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9
I have found that this is possible when my heart and my parlor are
readied for whomever He might bring by today. In that order. For if
someone comes by, I want to be able to serve them in a nice clean room
with a soft heart. Then I can sit in peace and enjoy their company.
Recently the LORD brought someone by. I almost blew it. I was working
outside when a friend that I expected the next week came one week early.
My first thought was, "Oh, I am sweaty, surprised, and sooo unprepared!"
As I kept moaning my condition to her, while praying silently for help, I
suddenly realized the pain I was causing my friend. I had to take my eyes
off myself and put them on her. All of a sudden I remembered my "readied
parlor" and took her there. I sat her down comfortably and made us some
tea. My children made some drinks and popcorn for her children. I ended
up having one of the most delightful conversations with my friend as we
shared the love of our LORD and the love our families through homemaking.
The next room that I clean after my parlor is my bathroom. For if the
LORD has someone come by, it is probable that they will use my bathroom.
Therefore I quickly clean it every day with this thought in mind.
I use to think that I had to give everyone a tour through my house when
they arrived, as so many other women have done for me when I visited
them. It wasn't until I read this book on Victorian ways that I realized
this was totally unnecessary. The Victorian woman only brought her guests
into her parlor where she served them in comfort and delight. This was
often practiced by women in the early days of our country as well. This
was the one room kept clean and tidy for unexpected guests.
In some of my friend's homes I have never been into their parlor. It is
always "reserved," so it seems. I have glanced in, and it looks oh, so
nice; but we have never sat in there together. To be honest, I would
really love to! Other friends have a home like mine with just a simple
living room. A family gathering place, so to speak. What I have learned
is to turn the simple living room into a parlor by day, and back to a
family gathering place at night. In that way I can serve those women
that he brings to my door in grace and peace during the day. And in the
evening I can enjoy my family in this special spot in our home.
My kitchen is my workplace. It is beautiful to me, but it is just that,
a workplace. So it is often quite comfortably messy - for the heart of my
home beats here. I find women love to chat with me in this room. But if
it is messy, I am most comfortable chatting with them in my clean parlor
over a cup of tea. For my mind needs to be focused on them, not on my
discomfort in a messy room. With this in mind, I will gently lead them
there.
I am learning little by little the art of practicing hospitality with a
"parlor mentality" that so many of my great, great grandmothers practiced
so long ago. For it is my heart's desire to be ready for my LORD at any
time of the day - He is my Master - Who beckons me to be soft hearted to
those He sends my way. And "what you do for even the least of these, you
do for Him." May He continue to help me practice the tender love and
refreshment shown in hospitality to the glory of His Strength.
Love,
Laine