When I set out to practice biblical hospitality more intentionally, my vision was clear—I’d host more gatherings, invite new people into my life, and become better about bringing meals to those in need. That was my plan. But God, in His infinite wisdom, had something far deeper in mind.
A Hard Reset on My Hospitality Plans
Not long after I made these resolutions, I found out I needed rotator cuff surgery on my dominant shoulder. This wasn’t a quick-recovery surgery (if such a thing even exists). For six weeks, I was completely dependent on others, my dominant arm immobilized in a sling. Suddenly, all my grand ideas of serving others were impossible. Instead, I found myself on the receiving end of hospitality while trying to do everything with my left hand.
And let me tell you—it’s humbling.
Our church family showed up in ways I never expected. They brought meals, checked in on me, and carried burdens I could no longer manage myself. I was reminded of Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” For those six weeks, God wasn’t asking me to do more, but to receive—to experience firsthand the grace and kindness of biblical hospitality.
An Unexpected Call to Deeper Hospitality
The very day my sling came off, I received another life-changing phone call: we were approved to foster two children.
Fostering wasn’t something we had planned or even had on our radar. But when a loved one walked through an incredibly difficult season and could no longer provide the care their children needed, we had the privilege of stepping in.
At that moment, hospitality took on a whole new meaning. It wasn’t just about opening my home—it was about opening my heart. It wasn’t about a perfectly set table—it was about embracing brokenness and offering love in the midst of it.
Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” This kind of hospitality isn’t about impressing others; it’s about being present in their pain. It’s about making room, not just at the table, but in your life.
During this time, our church family supplied so many of our extra needs. Toys were purchased for the kids (and I mean really good toys, better than my kids had at that age). Clothes were given to us, a small group at our church stepped in to donate money that we used to get a bed, and someone else helped to put it together. We were overwhelmed with the generosity.
A Gospel-Shaped Hospitality
Through this journey, God changed my view of hospitality entirely. Before, I saw it as something simple—offering dessert to a guest or making an extra meal for a friend. It is those things, but biblical hospitality is so much more than that.
It is sacrificial. It is sometimes painful. It is almost always messy…
Because people are messy… Relationships are messy… Life is messy…
And yet, the call remains.
Hospitality isn’t just about serving those who are easy to love—it’s about welcoming the stranger, the broken, and the hurting. It’s about mirroring the love of Christ, who invites us into His family despite our own unworthiness.
Matthew 25:35 reminds us of this truth:
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Ultimately, this is what biblical hospitality is about—seeing people as image-bearers of God, meeting their needs, and pointing them to Christ.
A Gift I Never Expected
The children we fostered have since moved from our home, but they will forever hold a special place in my heart. When they stepped into our lives, I thought I was doing something for them. But the truth is, they changed me.
Through them, my husband and I grew closer, and I discovered that I am capable of a different kind of love—one that stretches, sacrifices, and deepens in ways I never imagined. And it didn’t stop there.
In the process, God gave me another unexpected gift: new family. People I met only once at a funeral showed up to support these kiddos and their parent, and now I consider them my own. The love and care that surrounded these children and their parent wove us together in ways I could never have orchestrated on my own.
This experience has left me in awe of God’s goodness. What I once saw as an interruption, I now see as an invitation—an invitation to love deeper, to welcome wider, and to see hospitality not as something I do, but as something I live.
How to Start Your Own Hospitality Journey
Maybe you’re feeling a nudge to open your home or your heart in a new way, but you don’t know where to start. Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Begin with Prayer. Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you. Hospitality starts with a willing heart.
- Look for Simple Ways to Serve. Hospitality isn’t always a big gesture. It can be as simple as inviting someone for coffee, bringing a meal to a new mom, or sending a text to check in on a friend.
- Be Willing to Be Uncomfortable. True hospitality is sacrificial. It might mean making room at your table, giving up your schedule, or, in the case of our family, having my boys share their space with two little ones who needed us.
- Use What You Have. Do you love to cook? Bake an extra loaf of bread and take it to a neighbor. Are you good at organizing? Help someone who is struggling get her home in order (while you’re at it, I could use some help too). Whatever your gifts, God can use them.
- Make It a Habit. Hospitality isn’t a one-time event; it’s a way of life.
Here are Some Ideas
If you’re looking for a practical way to start? Try making a batch of pretzel dogs. Share them with a neighbor, a friend, or someone who could use a little kindness. **You can find the recipe on my blog!**
If you are intimidated by making a meal, invite someone new for dessert and ask them about their life. You never know how God will use that time. Try one of these SUPER SIMPLE desserts that you can make for an easy start!
3-Ingredient Caramel Apple Dip— I can’t stop eating this!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie— Make it the day before. It’s great out of the freezer.
2-Ingredient Strawberry Cream Cheese Fruit Dip— Serve with assorted fruit, it’s always a hit.
Easy Cream Cheese Dip— This can be sweet or savory. There are so many options!
Simple Peach Cobbler— It’s easy to throw together last minute but gives you something warm and comforting right out of the oven.
Again… Hospitality isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It’s about opening your heart and home, making space for others, and loving because God first loved us. You don’t need a picture-perfect house or a gourmet meal—just a willingness to welcome others in.
What’s one small way you can practice biblical hospitality this week? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or connect with you on social media! Let’s encourage one another as we learn to love well. ❤️
2 Comments
Very well written. Such wisdom awakening lines 🙂 I always begin with a prayer.
Thank you. We all need each other 🙂