A small knock, low on the door, caught Ruthie's attention today. When she opened it, Britney stood there, trying not to cry. She had come home from the playground to find no one at her apartment.
By the time I returned home from the bookstore, Britney sat on the couch with a book and some cookies. I picked up a short story anthology I was reading, and we sat together in the living room, reading, watching our iguana clamber around by the window, and laughing as Britney stumbled over bigger words.
Every few minutes, we took Britney back to her apartment to check for her parents, and she finally got in.
Of course, this happened on the very day when I was thinking about the privilege of opening your home to people.
There's a common practice around here of taking people out or meeting them for things, but not letting them into our homes. I feel like it's a shame. When we invite kids or strangers or foreigners into our homes, we invite Jesus in.
I feel like Britney's presence in our home today, and the presence of all the kids and adults who pass through our apartment, is more a gift to us than it is to them.
So, readers, here's a challenge: Bring someone you don't know that well into your home, open your life to him/her, and see what happens. Post your experience in the comments field or shoot me an e-mail at northpapers@gmail.com. You'll be shocked at how God reveals himself.
This is most excellent; a home like this is valuable beyond measure and I think a great picture of heaven, as Rilke intoned "the houses welcoming all knockers..."
ReplyDelete"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:1,2
ReplyDeleteI read a great post on this exact topic a couple of weeks ago.