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Bread for the Journey


Last Saturday morning I rushed around . ..
watching the clock. . .
timing out what had to be finished.

I was looking for the details to be perfect. .
special . . .
 it mattered to me.

I had invited my beloved's mom... aunts  and his cousin over for lunch.
They had requested that we get together so that I could sign a few books for them.
Their suggestion was a local restaurant.
I had agreed and then felt that a visit at home would be more conducive to conversation and relaxation.

OH. .the weekend seemed so busy already.
Did it matter if we met in a restaurant?
It did.

What I realized is that the rushing around to make a home special is not wrong when it is a gift of honoring guests.  There are lots of moments where I can relax and reflect on what the Saviour coming to earth as a baby means to me. . .
but it is okay to have times of rushing around too in preparations.
I silently thanked the Lord for the opportunity to have these special ladies in our home.  I felt they  deserved to feel that an effort had been made on their behalf.
Instead of feeling stressed and frustrated . .
I felt peaceful . .  knowing that it mattered.  My motives were honest and God was okay with my rushing and hurrying.

They came.
We shared a simple meal together.
We looked at photos together.
We talked about family and those we missed.

As they left . ..
I knew that it had mattered and already looked forward to having them over again.
What good is a warm and comfortable bungalow if I don't open our door? 
My desire was not to impress . ..
but rather to bless.
In the rush of it all . .
God prepared my heart.

I was reading in 2 Corinthians 9 this week and the last four verses struck me in a new way.
I leave you with the last verse.
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift."
2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

14 comments:

  1. What a lovely post. Thank you for new insite into the hustle-bustle of guests arriving. I can feel the warmth in that room thru the pictures of those beautiful women.

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  2. Thank you for this insight, especially at this time of the year. Yes these family celebrations can cause a
    lot of rushing and some stress. But if we remember what our efforts are in service of - celebrating the season and our family. You explained this in a way that is very clear to me. Thank you again.
    Darlene
    barnes-girl.blogspot.com

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  3. Lovella - you have no idea how much I needed to hear this today. Your hospitality jumps right off the page. I need to be reminded that it's O.K. to make things "special" and to "bless" my guests rather than try to impress. Thank you so much for your insight. I am blessed by your thoughts and blogs each and every day.

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  4. Beautifully expressed! I have just experienced the joy of getting ready, the joy in the moments, and the memories like yours say.....yes...it mattered.
    I am sure you blessed each lady that came, and that you were blessed and found great joy in every part of that day.

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  5. Thanks for the beautiful reminder of serving one another in love and honour reflecting Christ in it all- always to be our goal. The Lord once again has confirmed that verse to me to use inside my cards and notes on gifts this year - yes what an indescribable gift He has given us to share- Amen!

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  6. Talk about an ah ha moment. Your words really made me sit back, close my eyes and think. Thank you for filling my heart with the joy of the season, family and friends.

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  7. Thank you for expressing how I feel! I always feel so guilty about fretting over how my house looks to others ~ not in "everyday living", but when I invite friends in for special times. I want them to feel uncluttered and comfortable in my home. I enjoy your blog, your words of encouragement, your recipes, but mostly your love for the Lord. Keep up the good work. ;)

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  8. Thank you for this post about balance. it is hard to keep one's perspective sometimes when we want everything to be perfect. God certainly honours our desire to bless rather than to impress. You blessed these dear women by making things special for them and God will use it to bring glory to Him.

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  9. Thank you....just the inspiration/motivation/excuse.....sometimes all 3 that I need. :)

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  10. shirley reimer bertheletteDecember 11, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Lovella what a lovely post;that is the feeling I have; thanks for reminding us of the hospitality, we all have in us to give, great feeling for sure. thanks so very much for this,you are truly blessed; love your pictures too. :)

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  11. So timely for many of us...Thanks Lovella for sharing something from your heart.

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  12. I am so glad you wrote this post about making our home comfortable for our guests when they come to visit. We had company over yesterday, and like you, I am rushing around preparing and making my home clean and tidy, well it's clean, but I have kids...sometimes I feel like I do too much, but when the guests come, we have a wonderful time, and yes I do it all for them, to bless them! Thank you! :)

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  13. Well, I do the same thing when people are coming to my house. I am not sure if I am trying to impress anyone, I think it is just the fact that we seldom have guests and we get lazy and a bit cluttered when no one comes for a while. Then when I know they are coming I see all sorts of things that I should have attended to. I don't need to have my house look fancy, I just want us all to be comfortable and have a good time.

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  14. Thank you for the lovely "breath of fresh air" post. To invite someone into our home is to invite that person into our heart....a very special connection. Not to focus on perfection but on moments to be shared on a deeper level with another! Christmas Blessings to you all! Doreen

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