I love it when God teaches me through experiences, and I tend to learn the lesson even more fully when He uses my own writing to impact my heart. This week has been one of those opportunities and I know He timed it for just when I would need the encouragement.
I have been using themes to organize my writing goals for each week. This week, I felt led to write about Hospitality. It seemed like an odd topic – given the current quarantine situation – but I embraced the challenge and brainstormed about the unique ways I have seen people offer hospitality while social distancing. Even as I blogged about the loneliness of others, my own heart was grieving this week. I felt alone.
Early in the week, my friend and neighbor texted to ask if she could visit in the yard. We have a beautiful maple tree just outside my back door that creates a “room” with the strong branches. Several swings hang from its arms and that old tree has hosted more conversations than I can count. The swings hang a safe distance apart and the fresh air and cool shade offer hospitality without compromising health. We had a wonderful visit and after she left I felt less alone.
Just last night, another friend texted and asked to stop by for a visit. “I’ll meet you under the tree!” was my quick response. This time, the dusk had settled in and my family was all around – but somehow our conversation felt safe and sacred under the protection of the maple’s canopy. Hospitality provided hope and healing under the shelter of peace.
Even in this time of quarantine and social distance, we still need to be together. Virtual meetings are good, texting and calling are important, writing letters and posting on social media have value – but there is nothing that replaces the actual presence of a person. I respect the need to be isolated in this time, but in the right environment, with the proper precautions, we still need each other.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:11-12
I am grateful for my opportunities this week to offer hospitality. God used my own gift of encouragement to encourage me! He blessed me by giving me opportunity to bless others. In my own words from Volume 1 of “A Daily Cup of Encouragement – One Sip at a Time”:
“This is abundance – full circle – complete. The word, Shalom, that we know as peace, means completeness in Hebrew. When God completes something there is peace – Shalom.”
Go in peace, my friends. I pray that you are able to encourage someone in the coming days and that in your encouragement, your own heart will be blessed. Shalom.