Practicing hospitality as a busy mom might feel impossible, but I’m here to tell you that it’s not! In this post, I’m going to share five practical ways to show hospitality to others, even when life is full.
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Romans 12:13
The gift of hospitality
Throughout Romans, Paul speaks of many different spiritual gifts. He says the gifts “differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6). I do believe that some people have the gift of hospitality and service, but I also think as believers we are called to welcome others into our home. But not just our homes, hospitality can be practiced in a number of different ways.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:8-9
Hospitality is not just inviting people into your home and providing a place to hang out. It can be simple things like making someone feel welcome that is new at your church. It can be reaching out to someone you just met and introducing her to your friends. If you enjoy these things or you feel like these come natural to you, you may have the gift of hospitality!
Keep it simple
Hosting isn’t about elaborate displays and impressing your guests, it’s about being yourself and making them feel welcome! If you’re a paper plate kinda person (which I totally am), then stick with that! Cook meals and choose snacks that you would normally eat, and things you are comfortable cooking. Another option is to do a potluck. People usually love contributing to a meal, so doing a potluck makes it easy on everyone.
I feel most at home when I am most myself. People accepted your invitation because they want to be around you. Try to focus on the company rather than how you “should be hosting.” Focus on the conversation (as much as you can with crazy kiddos running around) and soak in the time you have together. Your authenticity will make your guests feel so welcomed.
Let’s look at some practical ways you can practice hospitality, even as a busy homeschool mom.
1. Before any preparations are made, pray over your home
Before we get into the logistics of hospitality, I want to talk about praying over your home and the people that will be in it. Here is what I tend to pray over my home before guests arrive:
Lord, please guide me and help me to make others feel welcome here. I pray that connections will be made, friendships will grow, and everyone would leave filled up and not drained. I pray that my kids will make new guests feel welcome and comfortable. I pray that if they see anyone by themself, that they would reach out to them and ask them to play. I pray that everyone who comes in will feel your presence and feel comfortable enough to talk about hard things, to share their heart, and to feel at peace in our home. Thank you for giving us this space. Thank you for everyone who is coming today. I pray that our home and conversations will all be used for your glory. Amen.
No matter how you choose to invite people in, remember to let the Holy Spirit lead you. Lean in to Him and ask Him how you can use your home and space to bring Him glory.
One of my favorite authors, Sally Clarkson, has written these incredible books that are all about hospitality:
1. Make your home inviting
One important thing to remember if you’re doing this playdate style – whoever is coming, they are most likely coming to enjoy the company of other mamas, and for their kids to get some play time in. Your house does not have to be perfect. I try to clean and prepare as much as I can, but if it doesn’t get done – that’s ok. They’re not coming for the house. They’re coming for the fellowship!
The people in your home are your first priority, but Here are some things you could do to make your home feel inviting:
- light a candle or turn on a diffuser
- play music softly
- clear the clutter
- open the curtains
- drape blankets over the couch
- fresh flowers
- make some coffee and/or offer water
- have snacks available for the kids
Remember the most important preparation is you! You want to be in a good place to welcome others into your home, so take a few minutes to rest and pray before everyone arrives. Pray that the Lord will use you and guide you.
2. Include your kids in hospitality preparations
On top of our daily motherhood tasks, hosting can feel like a lot. If your kids are old enough to help – include them! I have tried to train my kids on how to be hospitable as I prepare for guest to arrive. We talk about what to expect, who is coming, and go over ways they can help. Here are some ways my five and seven year old help us get ready for guests:
- clean their rooms
- check bathrooms to make sure there is a clean hand towel and enough toilet paper
- write names on cups for kids
- if we are having guests for dinner, the girls will offer a beverage when they arrive
- I’ll ask them to gather their friends when it’s time for a craft/snack
- After guests leave, we divide up rooms in the house and all pick up together
My kids absolutely love having their friends over, and I love it too. But I remind them that it is a team effort. While I want them to have so much fun with their friends, all of the preparation and cleaning has to be done together. We’ve been hosting since my oldest was a baby, so they are used to it by now!
3. Plan an activity for the kids or families
I usually try to have at least one group activity planned for the kids. This is a great way to bring everyone together. They are great at entertaining themselves, but they really seem to look forward to a structured activity as well. This can be a number of things depending on how old the kids are. Here are some activities/crafts you could plan:
- seasonal craft (salt dough ornaments, decorate cookies)
- kraft paper on a table or floor for coloring (I’ll usually draw a few things for them to color)
- play doh
- art project (we love Art for Kids Hub on YouTube!)
- dance party (you could play musical chairs or freeze dance)
- scavenger hunt (by far one of my kid’s favorites)
If you are looking for crafts but don’t have time to plan them, I send out a monthly craft plan that has a list of all the supplies and instructions needed for four crafts to do that month! They’re simple, easy, and so much fun!
4. Have a central place for moms of babies to hang out
Don’t forget about the mom that is coming with tiny ones! My kids are 7, 5 and almost 3. They can play with their friends and don’t need to be sitting by me the whole time. But for the little ones under one year old, they’ll need constant supervision. Try to find somewhere for moms of babies to sit with them and not feel left out.
We usually use our living room. I try to make sure there’s some baby toys in the mix and places for everyone to sit comfortably. In the summer time, this can be a blanket outside or on your porch where you can watch the big kids play. But in the winter, you’ll just want it to be somewhere where they can keep warm.
5. Look for opportunities to listen and pray for one another
Ever since I became a mom, life has felt so different. There are so many joys and yet, so many struggles that come along with being a parent. Getting together with other moms is something that really fills my cup. There’s something about being around others who understand the stage of life you’re in. It’s such a joy to bring other moms together in my home. It truly is one of my favorite things to do.
I’ve realized is that being hospitable is something the Lord calls me to do daily. I want to look for ways to serve others, not only in my home, but in the grocery store when I see another mom struggling. Or at the park, I try to encourage my children to reach out to those that are by themselves. Even just in our daily life at home, I want to serve and show hospitality to my family as well.
When you have people in your home, look for opportunities to listen and pray. As moms, we all have a set of struggles we are facing. And we all want to be heard. Try to take the time to truly listen. And when you feel led to pray, do so. What a blessing it will be to them.
There are so many ways to show hospitality to others. To me, hospitality is just simply making someone feel welcome. And what a gift and an honor it is to do so.
Hospitality – All for His glory
I’ve been guilty of planning things for the sake of planning things. But when I plan things as I feel led by the Spirit, it is always such a blessing. I am blessed to have people in my home, and they are blessed by the fellowship. If you are overwhelmed by the idea of having people over, remember to keep it simple. It’s about the time together, not how clean your house is or what you are cooking.
Sometimes, moms are just waiting on someone to ask them to hang out. We all go through seasons of loneliness in motherhood (more about that here). But there are so many ways to honor the Lord through hospitably. It is a practice and it does take time, but the first step is diving in and asking someone to come over. What a blessing it will be for you, and for them.
Thanks so much for being here,
If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy these:
How to Overcome Loneliness in Motherhood