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Anna Natzke's avatar

Thank you for this post. It really inspires me. I am only 18 and not a housewife yet, but it's been my dream for years to have the same kind of hospitality as you describe your parents having... even though I'm a prickly introvert haha. Thank you, this post means a lot!

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Amanda Barber's avatar

Thanks for reading!!

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L. Adams's avatar

Thanks for writing this! Last Sunday, the Lord told me to bring home people with me for lunch. He even told me what to make. We had a very enjoyable time, and I’m going to depend on the Lord more often to tell me who needs food and friendship instead of doing it all on my own.

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Raindrops on Roses's avatar

Thanks for this! I appreciate that you bring up the vulnerability it takes both to host and be a guest. And how, once we “get past ourselves” we can really experience great joy, connection, and community. It’s true and I can also feel very inept at hosting and self conscious. However… forging community and friendship is well worth the risk.

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Amanda Barber's avatar

I’m glad you were encouraged by it!

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Charles Summers's avatar

Great points Amanda. This is how we can undo some of the intentional, long term damage done to our families by our own politicians. I appreciate your emphasis on hospitality versus entertainment when receiving guests. As for declining the casserole, you don’t need to go into the why of it, simply explain that it doesn’t agree with your digestive system, but it looks and smells wonderful.

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Gary W. Sherwin's avatar

I too am experiencing the fracture of community, family and civility. I know that each of us is in some way at fault for this occurring. It often feels impossible to fight, not a rising tide,but a tsunami. It is somehow comforting that this is the way the world proceeds toward Glory.

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Amanda Barber's avatar

I do really believe it's possible to regain it in some small degree, one person at a time.

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Gary W. Sherwin's avatar

Yes.

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Quinda Penner's avatar

We recently visited our daughter in law and son. they live six hours from us so we of course spent night with them .We had a very nice visit with them .While there she asked me “do you think that having Sunday company over is becoming a lost tradition?” I was quite appalled at her question because I don’t think it is in our church conference but she might be right.

Thank you for your thoughts .

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Amanda Barber's avatar

We can keep it alive! Thanks for reading.

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Wendell Hyink's avatar

Hear, hear

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Jan 27Edited
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Amanda Barber's avatar

You're most welcome, and thanks for reading! Hope it's inspired a renewed interest in personal hospitality for you.

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