Hospitality starts with setting an environment that is not hostile!

 Hospitality is a way to minister to others as well as setting the tone in our home to receive Chris each evening and weekend.

1 Peter 4:9 "Use hospitality to one another without grudging."

Lord, forgive me for all the grudging for being "over it" with Chris, and frustrated with not having generous friends that give back/invite us over.

I have felt the strong pull, and responded to bringing my kids home to homeschool.  It's the big things like this, as well as the little things: short and long term invites that would allow for impact on my kids. Even our "plans" for the lakehouse was thwarted (I have peace about it) for my conviction to protect my kids first.  (In this case extra boys to my daughter being the only girl.  I was disappointed in the invitor's expectation that it be okay for her to hang with the boys for 3 days including overnights.... even for my son, the secluded exposure that comes with overnights.  Every time he goes with rangers there's a caution, Lord, help me to be more mindful to pray when my kids are away; that their hearts, minds, eyes are protected, and physically.

So hospitality has everything to do with how I command and care for my home, my family, and how I open my home and my family up to others.  It's both being welcoming and protecting.  While Chris may do some of the physical protecting, it is my job to seek and listen to Holy Spirit for whom, where, when, and promptings or cautions for both inviting and letting my kids go, as well as where we take them.  I need to be the primary influence on my kids.  Whenever I am with them, I create "home", so help me Lord to radiate generosity, comfort, joy, nurturing, and discernment for what I allow.  Help me to not just ask the kids what they think or want, but walk through choice making and prayer with them.

I enjoy having others over, but my primary role of hospitality is making my own feel welcome.  Then I can go beyond to welcome others as we as a family are secure.

"Do not suffer the little ones to come unto me" Do not come in between any of those He's called me to care for and God Himself.  I may unintentionally do this when I am not careful of the influence that would turn them way from God.  I cannot do better than Him, but I can hinder their progress towards him.