Hospitality

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Tis the season to attend parties, host parties, and stress before anyone sets foot in your home. Our culture views a good hostess as the epitome of kindness, warmth, and perfection. I'm not sure that's the intention, but our culture certainly presents an ideal that most people can never achieve.

I think we should stop trying.

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Encyclopedie is a collection of writings by various scholars about a multitude of topics. The most well-known contributors are Diderot and Rousseau. One of the lesser known authors, however, has the perfect definition for hospitality. Louis, Chevelier de Jarcourt wrote, "Hospitality is the virtue of a great soul that cares for the whole universe through the ties of humanity."

The virtue of a great soul...someone kind and caring, someone who displays decency and unselfishness, someone who is gracious and gentle. This is that person who draws you to her or him, not with the exciting charisma of the star of the party but with a soft voice and warm fragrance. They make you feel safe, secure, and welcome.

Cares for the whole universe...hospitality isn't only about inviting family and friends. Hospitality makes everyone welcome. The effective host welcomes the tag-along sister of the sister-in-law and makes her feel like she belongs. (Story of my life.)

Ties of humanity...what do we all have in common? Food! Maybe music, games, laughter.

Anywhere in that explanation did you read spotless house, no clutter, and lobster tails?

No. Poll your family and friends, and what they talk about years from now isn't your clean counter. Maybe they'll talk about the food, but even so, that depends on the atmosphere, the spirit of rest and refreshment.

That's it! Hospitality is rest and refreshment.

This Christmas season, don't worry about spending 8 hours on the dinner and $8000 on the presents. Pour your heart into making your home a place of rest and refreshment, a home that exemplifies hospitality.