A Hospitable Home

Preparing Your Home for Hospitality

By Tammy Maltby

What would you say if I suggested you have your minister and his or her family over for dinner next week or let your teenaged daughter have a slumber party tomorrow night? Does your mind immediately shift into panic mode as you think of all the reasons you’re just not ready for company? If that’s true, I’d say you’re pretty normal. But I’d also urge you to give some thought to setting your home up for hospitality on a regular basis.

Yes, I’m talking about cleaning your house. And decorating. And getting organized. And cooking. But before any of these, I’m talking about adjusting your mind and heart to think, “come in.” And to do that, it helps to be intentional. It helps to do some planning—not just planning for a specific event, but adjusting your life so that hospitality isn’t such a big hurdle. Here are some strategies to keep in mind:

1. Make yourself and your family at home. Make it a goal to make your house welcoming to those who live there. And remember that you, too, need to be able to relax and feel at home—in your home.

2. Invest in order, beauty, and comfort. It’s worth spending time, money, and attention to make your house a welcoming place.

3. Be intentional about extending invitations. If it doesn’t come naturally to you, put it on your to-do list. And do this regularly—once a month, once a quarter, once a week—until it becomes a habit. Inviting guests will motivate you to keep your house ready.

4. Don’t clean for company. Yes, I really mean that. Make it a goal to get and keep your house in a condition where you would feel comfortable—or at least not completely mortified—if someone you knew dropped by on the spur of the moment. It may take you awhile to get there, but you can do it.

5. Learn the art of a quick—I mean quick!—cleaning to put on the final touches.

6. Cheat proudly. Don’t be afraid to take shortcuts to help your house feel welcoming to guests. Dim the lights and use fragrant candles to mask the presence of dust. Hide clutter in bedrooms, closets, the basement, even the shower. Clean just the visible areas and leave the rest for later. Then concentrate on making your guests feel welcome.

7. Resist the urge to apologize for your home. This makes guests more likely to notice what’s wrong…or even to feel guilty for disturbing you! Besides, when you keep apologizing, you’re keeping the focus on you and your accomplishments (or lack of it). Instead, focus on your guests’ needs and put your energies into helping them feel welcome. It’s about them—not about you!

8. Prepare your heart as well as your home for hospitality. Make it a goal for your life at home to reflect the fruit of the spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These are what will make your home truly hospitable and welcoming.

From Loving with Your Life: The Miracle of Hospitality with Anne Christian Buchanan

Tammy Maltby is a speaker, author, Bible teacher, media personality, and executive director of God’s Green Home. She is also the author of Confessions of a Good Christian Girl, Lifegiving, and A Discovery Journal to a Beautiful Life. Tammy lives in Colorado with her husband and youngest daughter. Check out her Facebook group: Loving with Your Life: The Miracle of Hospitality! or her website  tammymaltby.typepad.com/