Sunday, January 27, 2019

Cordial Connections


CORDIAL CONNECTIONS


Life is pleasant when people are cordial, warmhearted and friendly. Cordial hospitality is generally considered a home-grown thing . . . I have you in my home, or you have me in yours. But there are many more options.

Hospitality is an ancient custom that is still important today. Nomadic people were quite hospitable. If strangers turned up at their tent door, they were expected to feed, shelter and protect them.

Open Hospitality
In our society nomadic people may turn up at missions and soup kitchens. Hospitality is offered there, along with a cup of kindness to refresh both body and soul.

In English movies, like Jane Eyre, I’m fascinated by the hospitality shown to guests arriving at a huge estate. They were welcome to stay for weeks in rooms prepared by the staff while cooks prepared food in abundance.

In spite of small homes and no servants, old west ranchers and settlers with barely enough to feed their own families did not shrink back. Strangers were welcome to share the beans and cornbread or a kettle of soup and homemade biscuits.

I enjoy cordial connections. Sitting across the table from one person is as fulfilling as serving a dinner to six, eight or ten.

The holidays this past year provided an unexpected form of hospitality. My husband’s health precluded going out of town to be with family and friends, so they came to us.

Cordiality Includes a Smile
Our Goddaughter drove several hundred miles to be with us for Thanksgiving. Then my sister-in-law and brother came up from Phoenix for Christmas Day. Each of these ladies have a heart for hospitality and each insisted on preparing the holiday meal. Not only did we enjoy a lovely time together, but, as a caregiver, it was a day of rest. They even insisted on doing the clean up!

Easy access to restaurants and coffee houses offer other options for hospitality.

Food & Fellowship
For example, my husband had a friend who was housebound. Whenever he could visit, my husband would call and say, “I’m coming over. What can I bring you?” The answer was always the same, “A load of tacos.” He would then stop by the guy’s favorite fast-food place and be greeted with a smile upon personal delivery.

As I see it, hospitality outside the home offers three positives: (1) It allows you to focus on your guest, (2) you give of yourself as you pay the bill, and (3) fellowship over some type of food, no matter where or when, provides valuable time for personal connections.

Since hospitality is shown by a friendly or solicitous attitude toward people don’t hold back, no matter how meager the fare. The key is to offer it cheerfully and, according to 1 Peter 4:9, “without grumbling.”

If you’re not in the mood, don’t do it. But if you are, both you and your guests will benefit from your cordial connections.


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I'm so glad you took the time to comment. It's nice to have that connection.