Whether it’s the holidays or simply an invitation for coffee and dessert in your kitchen, here are six simple things anyone can do to make their guests feel welcome and at home.
Six Tips To Help You Be a Gracious Hostess
Tag: entertaining
Don’t Miss Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving!
Have you ever gotten past a “big” holiday only to realize that you missed it? Oh, you celebrated with the food, the decorations and the flare, but you got so caught up in all the trappings that you didn’t really celebrate the true holiday. I think we’ve all been there a time or two (or twenty)!
In order to help us not regret “missing Thanksgiving,” I think it’s important to do some thinking and planning NOW to ensure that the holiday will be celebrated in a way that is a blessing to all who gather because we focused on what was really, truly important. That would not mean the lumpy gravy, the squashed rolls or the dry turkey, but on giving thanks. It’s just so easy to sit down to a bountiful table, everyone starving and ready to dive in, have the blessing for the meal, finish with dessert and football and totally overlook stopping for worship and givng of thanks to our great God for ALL His blessings.
Let me make a couple suggestions to help you plan for this time – no matter the size of the group that gathers.
- If you’re married, talk to your husband about how you could incorporate a time of giving thanks into your day. Ask for his input and depend on him to help implement this (if possible).
- Consider the food. If the meal is hot and on the table, the time of the blessing might not be the best time to also go around and have everyone share the things for which they’re thankful. That’s spoken from the hostess side who wants the food to be hot! Perhaps during the meal or afterwards would be better.
- Let everyone that’s coming know that they need to be thinking about the blessings they could share. Being prepared is helpful for everyone.
- Reading a portion of Scripture after dinner would be a great tradition. Psalm 34, 44:4-8, 92, 95, 100, 111, or 138 would all be good choices.
- Sing a hymn together. If your family isn’t musical, use Alexa to play it and join in singing!
- Spend time praying for one another.
My family has had what we call “Puff Moments” for many years on Thanksgiving Day. We gather in the living room after supper and share our blessings from the past year. There are inevitably many tears shed as we rehearse the ways God has answered prayer or helped in trials. The Puffs get passed around the room! What a sweet time it always is.
Plan ahead and prepare your own heart and that of your guests so you won’t miss out on giving thanks this Thanksgiving.
Share one blessing from this past year. I have my Puff ready!
Serve the Gospel
Wow. I love being a hostess and having people in my home! It’s just a blessing to throw open the door and invite them in. I love sharing what I have cooked or baked. It’s also fun to just share a steaming cup of coffee in ceramic mugs. It’s fun setting out my pretty dishes, linen napkins and basket full of silverware so everyone can help themselves to a casual buffet-style meal. I also love setting the table for a sit-down brunch or dinner. Either way, bowls full of steaming hot foods are shared while the conversation pours out easier than the full pitcher of tea.
Southerners are typically noted for entertaining. We have books written on the subject and even magazines overflowing with recipes and tips for success, but for a follower of Christ, if one ingredient is missing we will have served that food in vain. As a child of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must share the Gospel. It must be as natural a part of our conversation as adding the bananas to the Banana Pudding. Oh yes, it’s that important. Let me share why.
First, our home is really the easiest place in which to share the Gospel – the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We’re on our own comfortable turf. We have control over the conversation topic and we can steer that subject matter in a causal way to the Theme of Themes.
Secondly, the Gospel should flow from a believer’s heart in a way that serves others. Because Christ served in humility by dying on the cross, we learn to serve others by sharing with them the Truth that will do far more for them than our fried chicken or Coconut Cake.
Lastly, our ultimate goal in opening our home must come from a heart that desires to bring every person who walks in our door to an understanding that Christ loves them and offers eternal life through a relationship with Him. The conversation may be brief, but it should be even more important than making sure everyone’s glasses stay full.
How to do that?
- Look for an opportunity to share your own testimony of how you were saved.
- Ask gentle questions .
- How do you see God at work in your life right now?
- Do you have any spiritual beliefs?
- Do you believe in a heaven and hell?
- How do you think a person goes to heaven?
- Share with your guests something the Lord has taught you in His Word.
- Open the door for them to return to do a Bible study with you.
This conversation should be as natural as you offering another biscuit. Make it part of the table talk as you’re enjoying dessert and coffee. The more we do it, the easier it will become.
Even if your guests are all believers, share the Word together. Ask what God is teaching them, what burdens they are bearing and how you can pray for them, then do it before they leave your home.
I’ve failed miserably at this over the years, but the Lord has been awakening in my heart the need to serve the Gospel each time my doors open to a guest. It’s the most important Theme of any social gathering in my kitchen and I pray it is in yours, too.
How do you share the Gospel in your home?
A Peek From My Porch
I’ve uploaded a video tutorial today for something cute for your Easter table. Â No fooling! Â =) Â Check it out below…
Thanks for stopping by for a peek from my country porch!
RefreshHer 