I’ve just learned this concept of Friendsgiving. So we hosted one last night. Is this a new thing? Somebody fill me in! Pictured are the families in our church community group. We meet every week, share food, fellowship, and study the Bible. Pretty neat stuff.

Our feast included a deep-fried turkey, which was also a first for me. Crispy. Juicy. Yum. I mean, what ISN’T good fried?!

Everyone brought something, so there wasn’t any stress involved. My favorite part was listening and telling stories of our lives – the sad and the funny, the losses and the triumphs. Getting to know each other better. Sharing the past and present, centered around our faith and common goal to teach our children.

I tell people our home is always open. We like people and laughter and we don’t mind mess and chaos. Jesus was, essentially, homeless when he walked the earth in ministry. Many opened their homes to Him, offering hospitality. It is recorded that Jesus even invited Himself, at least one time that we know for sure, much to a certain very short tax collector’s surprise. (Luke 9:1-10)

I believe this is something we are expected to do as a follower of Jesus. But it doesn’t have to be a begrudged task. When our motives are right and true, God will give us joy in service to others. And hospitality is NOT the same as entertaining. I don’t know how to cook a perfect meal and spend all day preparing. Loving people through how good a roast tastes or how nice the house looks doesn’t make sense to me. I may just order pizza and clean the toilet. Loving others through listening, prayer and conversation, sometimes late into the night; THAT, I can do.

And I don’t mean that our home is only open to people who we particularly like or are comfortable to be around. People who are just like us or only share the same ideas and beliefs. Nope. We’ve shared Christmas dinner and coffee at our kitchen table with friends we met that very day.

I’m not a big fan of formal invitations or planning weeks ahead of time. I never know how many people will show up because I don’t take head counts or, in some cases, even remember whom I’ve invited. If we’ve had a conversation, I’ve probably invited you to come over. If not, be like Jesus and invite yourself. Grace be with you, my friends.