Hospitality and Marriage: Welcoming Others Together

Strengthening Your Relationship with Open Doors

My husband and I learned a secret a long time ago: opening our home to others actually makes our marriage stronger. It might sound crazy, with the messy house and extra cooking, but welcoming people into our lives as a team has brought us so much joy. It's about more than just having guests; it's about building a community and serving others together. This simple act of hospitality can really bless your relationship and everyone you invite in.

More Than Just a Party

So many of us see pictures online and think that hospitality means having a perfect home and cooking a meal fit for a magazine. I used to think that way too, especially since I spent years as a photographer trying to make everything look just right. But that kind of pressure can stop you from ever inviting anyone over. True hospitality has nothing to do with being fancy or perfect.

At its heart, hospitality is just about making people feel loved and welcome. It's the feeling you give people when they walk through your door. It's about offering them a comfortable chair, a listening ear, and a sense that you are truly happy they are there. It is an act of the heart that says, 'I'm so glad you're here with me.'

My husband and I had to learn this lesson over time. We used to get stressed out trying to host big, impressive dinners. Now, we know that sharing a simple pot of chili or ordering a few pizzas is just as good. People don't remember the fancy food; they remember how you made them feel. It's about sharing your life, not showing off what you have.

For our family, opening our home is a simple way to live out our faith. It is one of the most practical ways we can show the love of God to other people. By welcoming our friends, our neighbors, and even people we don't know very well, we are sharing the blessings we have been given. It turns our house into more than just a home; it becomes a place of warmth and ministry.

A Team Effort

One of the best things about practicing hospitality is that my husband and I do it as a team. This isn't just my job as the wife, it is something we plan and do together. From deciding who to invite to waving goodbye at the door, we are partners in it. It presents us to our friends and our children as a united couple, which is very important to us.

We have found a natural rhythm that works for us. My husband is the king of the grill, so he'll usually be outside cooking the main course. That frees me up to get the house tidied up, prepare some simple side dishes, and make sure the kids have washed their hands. We don't have to talk much about it anymore, we just each do our part to make it happen.

I can honestly say that working together to welcome people has been one of the best things for our marriage. It gives us a shared goal and a shared sense of accomplishment. We create happy memories not just with our guests, but with each other in the process of getting ready. It is a constant reminder that we are a team in everything we do.

It also forces us to communicate better and to appreciate what the other person is good at. I have to let him know what I need from the store, and he trusts me to make the inside of our home feel cozy and welcoming. Relying on each other in this small way builds a foundation of trust that makes our whole marriage stronger.

Blessing Your Children

Beyond what it does for our marriage, opening our home is a powerful tool for teaching our children. We want them to grow up with generous hearts, and there is no better way to learn generosity than to practice it. They learn that our home and our food are not just for us, but are things to be shared with others.

Our three kids, our son and two daughters, all have little jobs to do when we have company. Our oldest daughter might help me set the table, while our son offers to take coats. Our littlest one loves to be the one to pass out the napkins or a plate of cookies. Involving them makes them feel like an important part of the family's effort to bless someone else.

More is caught than taught, and our children see how we interact with our guests. They see us smile, listen, and serve. By watching us, they are learning how to be kind, how to think of others, and how to be open-hearted. We are building a family culture where welcoming people is just a normal and joyful part of life.

It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

I'll be the first to admit that I used to be a wreck before people came over. I would scrub the house for hours and worry about every little thing being in its place. With three kids, that's a battle you can never really win, and it left me feeling exhausted before the guests even arrived.

It took me a while, but I finally realized that my friends were coming to see me and my family, not to inspect my baseboards. No one cares if there are a few toys in the corner or some crumbs under the table. They just want to spend time with you and feel connected.

I've learned that the most important thing for a good visit is a relaxed hostess. If I am stressed and frazzled, my guests will feel it and they won't be able to relax either. But if I am calm and genuinely happy to see them, they will feel right at home, no matter what the house looks like. Your peace is more welcoming than a perfect home ever could be.

The Blessings Come Back to You

It might sound strange, but the more you give in hospitality, the more you seem to receive in return. The effort of planning and cooking is nothing compared to the joy and fulfillment we get from sharing our home. It's a beautiful secret that you only learn by doing it.

Through simply inviting people over for a meal, we have turned casual acquaintances from church and our neighborhood into some of our dearest friends. A friendship goes to a much deeper level when you move it from a public place into the warmth of your own home. It’s where real community is built.

Our home is so much richer because of the people who have come through it. We have filled these walls with so much laughter, interesting conversations, and shared moments of life. Hearing other people's stories and perspectives brings so much life and energy into our family.

Looking back, choosing to make hospitality a regular part of our life has been a huge blessing. It has strengthened our marriage, taught our children valuable lessons, and filled our home with so much joy. It's a simple practice that has paid us back in ways we never could have imagined.