“You have too many,” my husband says about my coffee cups, suggesting. “Put some in a yard sale.”
Some Fiesta, some Bybee, some Starbucks, some 29+ years of marriage cups – stacked, chipped, cracked, whole, overflowing in my cupboard.
Yet, at the end of the day, that cupboard is almost bare.
I’ve tried efficiency – encouraging the boys to use one cup a day. Yet, at the end of the day, my counters are littered with cups. Yes – most times it is a mis-management issue.
Other time’s it’s a hospitality issue. Hospitality in real messy living.
You see, when you cross my threshold, front or back – you become a part of my family.
“When hospitality becomes an art, it loses its very soul” (Max Beerbohm)
Like when the snow trees come and the neighborhood kids take a hot chocolate break at the counter.
Or when the boys friends come over – when they’re little their mom’s bring them, when they drive – they come by anytime – dinner time, after dinner-time, just in time for a cool cup of water. My boys bring home friends – who quickly learn, by the second or 3rd visit, where the spoons, the cups, the water, the soup ladle is
Or when friends come for dinner, to knit a few rows, for playdates
They learn where the spoons are to stir some sweetness into a steaming cup of Orange Dulce tea, where the cups are for a splash of water from the fridge dispenser, where the bowls are to ladle soup – and are invited back for refills.
Hospitality doesn’t just pull the cups out of the cupboard. Hospitality invites real relationship.
“Hospitality sitting with gladness” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
Not just serving, not just breaking bread. It’s pulling you into the family, into an intimacy that knows where to find the spoons, the bowls and the cups.
The Toscano soup or Country Ham and Corn Chowder, maybe the Tortilini Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup
Granola bars in the cookie jars, cupcakes or cookies on the counter
A cup of coffee, hot cocoa, lemonade, or Orange Dulce tea
There’s a catch, though. There’s a sign above the back porch door warning: Sit Long Talk Much
Talk much real words
“Hospitality should have no other nature than love” (Henriette Mears)
“How are you doing?” – and I mean it. How. are. you. doing?
The most disappointing thing I learned in college? When an instructor told the class that people don’t expect an answer; they don’t care.
Yet, we are called to care. . . called to be genuine. . . called to mean the words we use. . . .
“How are you doing?” – and I mean it. How. are. you. doing?
Tell me.
whether you’re 10, 14, 18, 21, a new mama, a mom of teens, or a grandparent – whether you’re broken, soaring, feeling cross-eyed, blessed, challenged or blessed in the challenge.
How. are. you. doing?
Sometimes, someone needs the asking, needs the door opened, needs someone who really means it and means to listen, means to care.
If in the telling, there is need, then there is prayer. Either together, right then – or just me, heart-praying.
How. are. you. doing?
Let me tell you a secret. I want my sons’ friends parents to live real hospitality. I want them asking the same question with real caring – an additional voice creating a chorus of pure care, pure realness, pure hospitality potentially changing a life for God’s good.
Hungry? Thirsty? World-Weary?
Pull a cup or bowl out of the cupboard and fill up on some real hospitality.
We have cups and bowls enough!
Pull what you need out of the cupboard.
Fill up on real hospitality – and tell me how you’re doing.
The hosts “ brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils,[g] 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness” (2 Samuel 17: 28-29)
Love it love it love it. Vivid description of my perfect home. Not need to get rid of mugs – need an extra cupboard.
Neat looking cupboard with all those various cups. Filled with unseen, warm, loving mem’ries…Now that my son is almost bound to college, he told me one day, that his friends truly appreciate that they are being talked to by me and hubby, aside from the goodies I intentionally prepare. To me, it’s always fun to see them having a good time over some cookies and tea or coffee then main dishes if I have the energy. There is more to those eating and drinking…We are all weaving the fabrics of friendship… I just pray it will be a masterpiece in each of these boys’ hearts…including that of my son’s.
Maybe I’ll take some inventory of my own cupboards…Not to throw away the cups or plates and saucers…Just to see which ones are hardly used…So, they can be put in the front and be used! 🙂
Blessings to you sister.
We have an odd collection at our house. Most were teacher gifts.
With that many friends popping over, those cups are getting good and loving use…what a treat and gift, Mary Leigh…I wish we could sit across from each other and share our stories…thanks for a peek into your hospitable home 🙂 what a blessing 🙂
On my way! 🙂
I loved this! The photo of your cup cupboard seemed to match the description of your house – colourful and plentiful. This made me wish to have a house like that somehow. I love how you define hospitality – when you cross the threshold you become part of the family – that’s it, exactly.
I need to do that! Soon I’ll be saying hello spring cleaning, lol. Stopping in from DearCreatives.com drop by anytime.
This is a nice post. I’ve heard the ‘they don’t care’ thing too, but I tend to think more like you, and I bet a lot of people really do care. 🙂
visiting today from Thursday’s Favorite Things.
Love it. Love hospitality. Love the sense of taking care of people and loving them when they come to my home. Great post to contemplate. I shouldn’t read so many in one day. Hard to know which one to sit with!
We’re going through a spiritual gifts exploration in our small group at church (hospitality being one). I believe you’ve summed it up beautifully. I’m going to print this and bring it along for Sunday!
The phrase that caught me was “not just breaking bread. It’s pulling you into the family, into an intimacy that knows where to find the spoons, the bowls and the cups.”
keep the cups my friend, fin another cupboard, giggle. Happy weekend wishes and thank you for sharing at the hop 🙂
Hi Maryleigh
My overstuffed cup cupboard always seems to be empty as well! I love your heart in this, dear one.
Much love XX
Mia
How I love this post! I have thought about writing about hospitality as well because it just isn’t practiced enough!. Our old home was constantly filled with children and then teenagers as my kids grew up. May God bless you in this so needed ministry.
Hospitality doesn’t just pull the cups out of the cupboard. Hospitality invites real relationship.
yes, yes, YES! i am telling you every time i read your blog i read my heart. hospitality is my gift to give and my heart has been heavy because it is taking us a bit of time to settle in this new town of ours. oh how i long… to “Pull a cup or bowl out of the cupboard and fill up on some real hospitality.” but i will say i do love coming here and feeling like i am sitting at your table.
I LOVE decorative cups and mugs. Great overall post. I have a lot myself, and it is really hard to part with them….even though most don’t get used.
I’m stopping by to say ‘hi’ from Katherine’s Favorite Things Thursday – better late than never.
http://artpark78.com/blog1
I have a lot of mugs but it’s the (plastic) glasses that get used, a new one for each sip of water by the four of us. We tend to run out of glasses before we run out of day. I’m doing pretty well, thanks for asking. Thanks to God. Love your brand of hospitality, and your caring. Blessing.
Do you know, I had your post sitting in the corner of my computer screen since last night, open because we are neighbors at a link-up. I’m glad I waited to read it until this morning. It confirms some things that God is speaking to my heart right now. I love what I’ve read here. Thank you!
You don’t have too many cups, your cupboard is too small 🙂 I don’t hear complaints from hubz after I say things like that! Found your post on Thursday Favorite Things! I would love to have you share this on The Creative HomeAcre Hop today 🙂
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop-4.html
Love all your cups. I enjoy beginning every morning by deciding which mug, from my collection, to use for my coffee. Just a tiny positive start to the day!
You are blessed, truly. Always dreamed of my home being like this… but due to circumstances and family spread too far, it is rare.
Beautiful and encouraging words. I love all of my coffee cups. I just can’t get rid of any of them!
Those coffee cups are so beautiful! Thumbs up! Great collection…
Stopping by from Thursday Favorite Things Blog hop- hope you can stop by 🙂
http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2013/02/apple-cider-vinegar-and-tablets.html
Thanks so much for sharing this on The Creative HomeAcre! I can’t wait to see what you share next time at…
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop-5.html
I love your blog. Very warm. I love this post. It is very true and very special. I love coffee cups and bowls. I buy them all the time. But this gave me such a different prospective!
Hugs,
Sandra
http://www.theadoredhome.com