Hostess With the Mostest
Fay Hogancamp
Matthew 25:40
"...inasmuch as you have done it unto one of these of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."
One day while I was at the beauty shop, I heard a loud voice from the other side of the room, "I don't know why my husband volunteered ME to keep that baby; I've never had children, I wouldn't know what to do with it!" I knew this woman whose husband was trying to start a halfway house for prisoners, and that she was talking about a prisoner's child. I called to her, "Marlene, have your husband bring that baby to me; I even have a crib!" I learned that the baby also had a six year old sister who was coming with her. That was fine with me.
That afternoon, the two girls arrived, without any clothes, not even a diaper bag for the baby. Soon my five daughters arrived home from school, very excited about our little visitors, and they rushed out to tell their friends in the neighborhood. When they came back, they had baby bottles and baby clothes and blankets, that their mothers had sent. With five daughters, I had girl clothes of every size, so the six year old was taken care of; I just had to make a quick run to the drug store for disposable diapers.
That very evening, the older girl woke us up crying. My husband got his "little black bag" to look at her ears. Sure enough she had an infected ear, and Charles had just the antibiotic that she needed. This was confirmation to me why the Lord had sent the children to us for a week until their relatives from "down south" finally came for them. Meanwhile we sure enjoyed that six month old baby.
I didn't have to ask my husband, for Charles was the one who first started bringing strangers to spend the night. He was a cardiologist and when an elderly man had a heart attack, and his wife couldn't drive; Charles would bring the woman home with him to spend the night, telling her not to worry; if her husband had any new symptoms, he would be the first to know and would take her back to the hospital with him. Of course this meant that one of my daughters would have to give up her bedroom and spend the night on the couch.
Early on, my children learned that hospitality was required of Christians, and some sacrifices were required--and appreciated! Our family has been especially blessed to host people, for the Lord gave us this example: "And whosoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:27, 28
The definition of hospitality is kindness in welcoming strangers or guests. We may think Christmas is a time of cheer and good-will for everyone, but that is not always the case. There are folks who are alone, estranged and hurting. We are called to treat everyone as we would Jesus. I pray that I remember to speak a kind word, extend my hand for a loving touch, or perhaps even invite Him in to share a meal.
This holiday season let us look around and seek others to be hospitable to, to reach out and share the love of Jesus to all around.
Fay Hogancamp
Matthew 25:40
"...inasmuch as you have done it unto one of these of these my brethren, you have done it unto me."
One day while I was at the beauty shop, I heard a loud voice from the other side of the room, "I don't know why my husband volunteered ME to keep that baby; I've never had children, I wouldn't know what to do with it!" I knew this woman whose husband was trying to start a halfway house for prisoners, and that she was talking about a prisoner's child. I called to her, "Marlene, have your husband bring that baby to me; I even have a crib!" I learned that the baby also had a six year old sister who was coming with her. That was fine with me.
That afternoon, the two girls arrived, without any clothes, not even a diaper bag for the baby. Soon my five daughters arrived home from school, very excited about our little visitors, and they rushed out to tell their friends in the neighborhood. When they came back, they had baby bottles and baby clothes and blankets, that their mothers had sent. With five daughters, I had girl clothes of every size, so the six year old was taken care of; I just had to make a quick run to the drug store for disposable diapers.
That very evening, the older girl woke us up crying. My husband got his "little black bag" to look at her ears. Sure enough she had an infected ear, and Charles had just the antibiotic that she needed. This was confirmation to me why the Lord had sent the children to us for a week until their relatives from "down south" finally came for them. Meanwhile we sure enjoyed that six month old baby.
I didn't have to ask my husband, for Charles was the one who first started bringing strangers to spend the night. He was a cardiologist and when an elderly man had a heart attack, and his wife couldn't drive; Charles would bring the woman home with him to spend the night, telling her not to worry; if her husband had any new symptoms, he would be the first to know and would take her back to the hospital with him. Of course this meant that one of my daughters would have to give up her bedroom and spend the night on the couch.
Early on, my children learned that hospitality was required of Christians, and some sacrifices were required--and appreciated! Our family has been especially blessed to host people, for the Lord gave us this example: "And whosoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:27, 28
The definition of hospitality is kindness in welcoming strangers or guests. We may think Christmas is a time of cheer and good-will for everyone, but that is not always the case. There are folks who are alone, estranged and hurting. We are called to treat everyone as we would Jesus. I pray that I remember to speak a kind word, extend my hand for a loving touch, or perhaps even invite Him in to share a meal.
This holiday season let us look around and seek others to be hospitable to, to reach out and share the love of Jesus to all around.
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1 comment:
Thank you for that reminder...I am thinking of two elderly men in our church who lost their wives this year.....maybe they'd like to spend Christmas with us...
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