In my last weekly summary, I mentioned how busy we had been. I also wrote about extra-curricular activities on the Front Porch and how over-scheduled we have been. At the same time, the topic of hospitality keeps coming up. I was the chat hostess for Molly’s talk on hospitality at The Schoolhouse Expo. I’m also reading a very interesting book called The Reluctant Entertainer. (Review coming soon!)
So what do all these things have in common?
They all have to do with our homes. Either being away from home or opening our homes. I have been able to spend the last 2 days almost entirely at home. (I did leave this morning to pick up my son from his LAST CROSS COUNTRY practice!!!! Big sigh of relief here.) I feel so much better than I did less than a week ago. I’ve been able to accomplish so much more tangible work and I’m actually less tired! It’s amazing.
So why do so few people practice hospitality anymore?
I think it’s partly because we’re never home! We’ve all gotten so busy going here and there, to one event or another, that if there is a chance to entertain, we’re either too tired or the people we want to invite already have other plans or are too tired to add something to their busy schedules.
What’s the answer? I don’t think there is one single answer. But the first thing I’m going to do is to start guarding my time at home more closely.
I think that’s mostly it – you have to stay home to invite people over! Plus it requires cleaning your home and a little work!
M
That is a tough one. I have definitely kept my children purposefully out of activities while they were younger. We did plenty but really kept being home a priority. I can see as they are getting older that being out of the house is going to come more and more. My son plans to play baseball in the spring so our lives may change for a season.
Great post and a topic that has been on my mind too. We’re pretty at home people, especially now when I have so many little ones and my tired pregnant self (LOL). However, I’ve been reading an Amish/Mennonite series for children ages 9-12 that really has brought out in a few of the books how important it is to their culture to slow down and have time to be home and to spend time with family, including extended family. It has me thinking, that’s for sure.
I agree with you. We use to have people over for dinners and stuff all the time in Illinois. Then out here, when we were in the smaller town, we tried it and everyone just looked at us weird. Wondering why we would want to do it, and that they had no time with their farming. Now that we are in the ‘bigger’ town, we do try to get together more, but I find I don’t ask people over for dinner (or anything) anymore. It was such a habit, now it’s not even a thought in my mind. I need to change that.
Thanks for an encouraging post. 🙂
JoAnn
I agree – Staying home helps in being able to invite people over even on a whim. Sounds like a good book.
Amy @ Missional Mama