Hospitaltiy and the New Neighbors

Happy Monday, Cafe Friends! I have a God story to share with you today. Hope that it will bless you as much as it is blessing me.

We went to Sunday School and church yesterday. We've been very negligent in the Sunday school department, especially where my son Sam is concerned. But the new Sunday school year was beginning, so we made the effort to get there one hour earlier.

We pulled into the lot of the place that I jokingly refer to as The Church of the Holy Cornfield. Yes, we're in the middle of nowhere, with cornfields aplenty. The lot was showing that we weren't the only ones who've been negligent in the Sunday school category. Not many folks there.

We trudge into Sunday School, where five other adults and the pastor are waiting for us. Did I mention that this is a mission plant church? Did I mention that we're small? Did I mention we're in the middle of a cornfield?

The Sunday school lesson was about hospitality.

Very funny, God.

You see, we had new neighbors moving in next door this weekend. They will be renting the house from the single Dad who used to live there. I was a little nervous, not knowing who they were or what they'd be like.

And then the admonition came. Practice hospitality. Do good.

I went home, baked some snickerdoodle cookies, wrapped them up, and stuck a cheerful yellow bow on top.

I stamped a little card...nothing too fancy. Inside, I put our names, our dog's name, and our telephone number.

That evening, I walked over with my oldest son, Luke, and youngest son, Sam. Wow. Look at that! They've already started pruning some bushes. That's more than the single dad ever did. OH MY GOODNESS! Would you look at that! A yellow VW bug in the driveway! I was feeling very hopeful.

And then we meet them. Carol and Brad, empty nesters with some married kids, soon to be married kids, college kids and a few grandkids, too. Carol mentioned they had a little dog. Just a little girl bull mastiff. That made me laugh! We're talking a Henry and Mudge size dog, right? They adopted Bella from friends who were entering the mission field and couldn't take the dog with them.

Carol gushed over my cookies and card. She told me how my house looks so warm and welcoming, like you'd walk up to the front porch and it would give you a big hug. I gave her a big hug for that. Yep, they are awesome people. An awesome christian family that I can't wait to get to know better in the days ahead.

God is good, always. His Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Practice some hospitality today, friends! You'll be glad you did!