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Hi, I'm Morgan

For the past few years, Hospitality has been the core value we talk about most frequently in our family.

Why? Because helping our kids understand what it means to be “a great host” gives us an excuse to talk about so many other foundational values (like kindness, responsibility, and compassion.) It’s not just about throwing great parties, its about modeling the welcoming, “I-see-you” heart of God everywhere we go. Which means, we get to practice being great hosts often and very practical ways.

Here’s what I mean:

Several times in the New Testament, Christ-followers are encouraged to “practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9). Interestingly, the Greek word for hospitality is philoxenia which is a combination of “phileo” (love) and “xenos” (strangers). Rather than being defined by Pinterest-worthy table scapes and home-cooked meals (while it could certainly involve those things), the Bible defines hospitality as love to strangers.

This means hospitality can happen anywhere, not just at home.

In Leviticus 19, God pairs his advice about welcoming strangers with a reminder that the Israelites were once foreigners themselves. As God’s people, we are ambassadors on earth (2 Cor. 5:20-21). This world is not our true home, but we get the opportunity to represent the gracious, loving heart of God by the way we practice hospitality here and now.

Hospitality is asking the question:  How can I help another person feel welcomed? And that question can be asked anywhere, whether you are on your own turf or someone else’s. 

Hospitality is selflessness, and compassion, paired with thoughtful attention.

And, Jesus is the ultimate example of this. Even though he never had a home to host others, He made others—both the lowly and the uber important— feel seen. He recognized their needs and addressed them. He was a gracious host even at other people’s dinner parties.

Jesus showed us that hospitality is a way of life, not just something we do when are hosting dinner parties. Below are a few ideas of ways we help our kids learn to model the welcoming heart of Jesus in everyday life:

Ideas for Practicing Hospitality with Kids:

  • Practice hosting people in your home. It doesn’t have to be fancy or a big event. Invite friends over for dinner, gather neighborhood kids for cookies after school, host a football watch party. Encourage the kids to get involved by setting out snacks, greeting people at the door, or tidying up before/after people come over. Your child’s birthday parties are a great excuse to help them practice hospitality by greeting their guests and helping them feel welcomed. 

  • Be front yard people. It’s a simple yet powerful change. Just play in the front yard and engage with your neighbors!  You could host a lemonade stand, hang a swing out front, or place a picnic table in the front yard. (Kristen Schell’s book The Turquoise Table is one of my favorites and has plenty of practical ideas for front yard living.)

  • Help your kids learn to “own the room.” Being a good host, doesn’t just happen at home. Help your kids develop an ownership mentality when they are at church, school, or in community spaces. Encourage them think about how they could be welcoming or help create a hospitable environment for others. This could mean including others, cleaning up after themselves, and sharing. 

  • Encourage good manners. Good manners are the easiest way to practice hospitality while you are out and about. Simply opening the doors for others or smiling at a neighbor on a walk fosters kindness and teaches an others-focused attitude. We can also encourage our kids to show others respect and attention by looking them in the eye and listen attentively to friends. Treating everyone with dignity is a beautiful way to model the welcoming, hospitable heart of Jesus. 

What other ways can we teach our kids to model the “I-see-you” heart of Jesus? 

Interested in more content like this? I send out a weekly email packed full of resources on family values. You can subscribe here.

The Power of Teaching Hospitality to Kids

Parenting With Purpose

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