Happy New Year, RE friends! I can’t believe it’s 2010. Eighteen years ago when my son Elliot was born, I figured out that he would be graduating high school in 2010. I thought the year would never come. But it has.
I’ve written about JOY, and how easy it is to lose it. I’ve meditated on PEACE, as it was my goal last year to have it and to share it. But what about LOVE?
Beth Moore says: “Babies die without it. Children must have it. Youth plead for it. Adults search for it. We’ll only find real freedom in the love that will not fail or go away. The key to peace can only be found in such a love. God’s unfailing love.”
Thinking ahead to 2010 and becoming a more hospitable person, I see where I just need more love. We cannot be without it. We relish love. We get it and connect with it. And once we count on it, if it’s taken away, we lose our joy and peace! I see where love, joy, and peace go hand in hand, but it starts with love.
I feel loving when: I’m cooking in my kitchen, or sitting down at a table with family or friends. When I’m holding a baby or I’m sitting in a wedding. Love comes through hugs and kisses, date nights with my husband and special times with my kids. Love comes through meaningful words, reading, or my quiet time. It comes through inspiration, beauty, sunshine. It comes when my heart feels at peace and I know things are right with God. It comes through conversations with people – through connection and giving our lives away.
Eph. 5 says … Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (The Message)
Love doesn’t come when I’m overly busy or I’m not thinking about others first or I’m scurrying around. I don’t usually feel love when things are loud or noisy. I don’t feel it when I’m uptight, there’s tension, or when things are out of control.
In 2010 I’m inspired to become a more hospitable person by meditating on God’s Word and learning more to “love like that.”
1. Fill myself up with God’s love
2. Don’t look for the approval of others
3. Turn around and learn to give love back
4. Practice a simple approach to hospitality, that’s extravagant in love!
I figure if I live by these principles, it’s a recipe that is bound to be delicious!
I’d love to hear your goals or thoughts for 2010 when it comes to hospitality?
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this “icon” portrays a great message. It says that dinner parties are attainable, they are affordable, and that they can be beautiful even when on a budget. 
Beautiful Sandy! Love you.
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Sandy, ever since I started following your blog, you have changed my perspective on entertaining. I love this post and really want my entertaining to reflect God’s love for all of us. I look forward to more of your posts in 2010. They are very helpful and inspirational!
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“Tho I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol…” 1 Corinthians 13
It truly begins with love, doesn’t it?
Good post, Sandy!
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Well, being a Mormon, I have often wanted to be more like Joseph Smith’s wife Emma (when it comes to hospitality). She opened her home to many and it was never at convenient times or perfect situations.
I have a LONG way to go in this area. I’m super quick to think “Oh crap, I have too much going on.” But the truth is I’m always glad I did and I know if I don’t share the blessings & talents I have, they will be taken from me. Thanks for the reminder.
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What a beautiful and well said post. Happy New Year…
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My goal as always in the area of hospitality really follows my goal in the areas of relationships and community. To be generous with my time, my attention, my heart, my home, my stuff and my life. Being generous with all that God has blessed me with.
Great question.
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awesome blog today. I am not used to entertaining. It makes me nervous and worried about doing everything perfect. It usually blows up in my face. I’m thinking that happens because it’s about me and not about others. I’m gong to work hard this year to let God lead me to learn how to be more the person He wants me to be. Thank you for your example!
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Well, I am going to try to make a more of a {Sunday} dinner…
sandy toe
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For 2010 I am going to commit to less so I can be more committed to what I want to be committed to. Make sense? Those things that I love doing-having friends over – for dinner – for drinks – for a game, just hanging out with my kids enjoying all about them, and spending time with the hubby are truly important and often lost in the craziness of me always over-committing.
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So beautiful!!! One thing that I want to do more in 2010 is just to “enjoy the moment”. So many times I find myself looking forward to future events that I forget to just enjoy the moment God has given us!
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Something I’m striving for is just to be myself lately and that will have to carry over into entertaining – we LIVE in our house and it looks it – I need to get comfy with that so I can just have folks over and stop apologizing for the “mess” all the time. Sigh.
Happy New Year!
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