My youngest son Aidan had a friend over for a day of Beyblade battles, building forts, and whatever else their imagination found for them to do. It was after a long time of being outside in the cold, then running in and throwing off their coats, that Aidan’s friend walked right over to the fridge, opened wide the doors and reached in. He didn’t ask and I didn’t mind. I smiled and thought to myself, “He feels at home.”
Aidan
Hospitality is a curious thing. We often think that we open our homes for the sake of others. And that’s true: to welcome, share with, give to and bless others is an amazing experience. People of all ages, more than I bother to count usually, walk through our doors any given week. I’ve long learned that the best way to be hospitable is to be yourself, to let others see you being who you are and doing what you do. There’s no “pretending”, trying to impress people; there’s no “pouting”, wishing they would leave you alone. Your home is theirs – games, snacks, books, TV, etc. If they can feel like they belong and are wanted, if they can see and hear something different, if they can unlearn or learn something, if they can relax and rest, if they can talk and be heard, if they can laugh and have some fun – then hospitality has won the day.
Yet opening our homes is for our sake, too, because “selfishly” is a poor and miserable way to live. Keeping people out bleeds our hearts dry of love. But when we open our hearts with generosity, then our hearts grow deeper in kindness and open wider with love – like refrigerator doors. We smile because others feel at home and we’re sincerely thankful they’ve come and stayed, not only for their sake, but also for ours.
Keep your eyes open. A boy and a fridge can teach you a lot.
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