Why Every Homemaker Should Practice Hospitality

Practicing hospitality is an important aspect of your role as a homemaker! Here’s a look at why homemakers should practice hospitality, even when it seems a little uncomfortable at first.

Earlier this week I wrote about the two simplest ways to engage others and to begin offering hospitality. Today I want to build on that with answers to this question: Why practice hospitality at all?

To begin with, I’m employing a very general definition of “hospitality” here. Hospitality simply means welcoming someone into your space–into your home or into any aspect of your life.

We need to figure out why hospitality is important, because otherwise it’s much easier to go through life without opening up to people. 

Hospitality can be downright uncomfortable sometimes. It may be inconvenient, involve awkward small talk, and require you to give up your free time. It might force you to go out on a limb that you’re not sure can hold the weight of your social mistakes or personal idiosyncrasies.

But hospitality is worthwhile because it’s one of the most natural ways to point others to Christ. We demonstrate Christ’s love and sacrifice by selflessly giving to others. I Peter 4:9-10 says “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

God has entrusted us so richly with possessions, talents, and resources. He allows us to be stewards of this grace, and we get to experience the joy that follows from blessing others. Neglecting hospitality means missing a chance to make Christ known in a very tangible and personal way.

When we choose to bless others through hospitality, we open ourselves up to blessing as well. Initiating a conversation with someone or having them into your home could be the beginning of a rich friendship or a fresh opportunity.

Hospitality is one of those things that feels like work at first but later leaves you satisfied and energized. My parents used to make my siblings and I rake leaves for elderly friends, a task which sounded hard and boring initially. However, after working methodically for an hour or two, as a team and in tune with the autumn glory of Creation, we began to enjoy the work. When the job was done, we got the reward of seeing our friend full of surprise and thankfulness.

No matter what you have to offer, hospitality is customizable because there are so many ways to practice it. In the coming weeks, I have some practical advice on showing hospitality, as well some ideas on who might benefit from it. In the meantime, I have a couple of “thought” questions to leave you with: How have other people shown hospitality to you? How was their service a blessing to you?

Other posts in this hospitality series:

Part 1: What My Mother Taught Me About Hospitality
Part 2: Why Practice Hospitality?
Part 3: 7 People Who Need Your Hospitality
Part 4: How to Host Guests for a Meal
Part 5: Company Menus for Any Occasion
Part 6: How to Make an Overnight Guest Feel At Home
Part 7: Learn to Say Thank You: How to Accept Gifts Graciously

Hospitality Resources

My Hospitality Pinterest board
The Joy of Hospitality blog series @ Young Wife’s Guide
Hospitality posts @ Intentional By Grace
Come And Eat: A Celebration of Love and Grace Around the Everyday Table book by Bri McKoy
You will find a whole chapter devoted to hospitality in my cookbook, Real Food for the Real Homemaker!

I also recommend the A Heart for Hospitality video eCourse! It has lots of practical information and how-tos, as well as gorgeous printables! Access the course HERE.