Good hospitality can wrap us up like a warm, welcome-home hug, but it is something we don’t encounter that much anymore. Our busy lives have called for it to be outsourced more often than not. Catering companies and hotels may be better equipped to host a few friends or a large group, but something is lost in that – something that could be as simple as a tea kettle whistling its warm welcome to a friend coming in from the cold. Here are a few suggestions as to how you can redeem good hospitality.
Coming Home
November is a time when many folks travel home to be with family. Maybe a few of your old friends will be in town too. Make a point to get together with them and make your moments together warm. If you are inviting others into your home, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Hosting is not like entertaining.
Annie May Lewis points out in her book Still Living by Faith that “Entertaining says, ‘I want to impress you with my beautiful home, my clever decorating, and my gourmet cooking.’” Hospitality, on the other hand, is simply sharing the gifts you’ve been given with love. Your guests will be able to feel the difference within the first few moments of their visit. Good hospitality makes you feel loved and cared for, making it seem like you are coming home. Cobwebs in the corner will be much easier over-looked if your guests are met with kindness and a hot cup of tea for their cold hands.
Keeping It Simple
As we’ve said, hospitality need be no more than sharing a pot of tea. If you are going to include a dessert, choose a tea that pairs nicely with the flavors. Pumpkin pie, for example, goes very well with Dragon Well or a Darjeeling. For seasonal apple desserts, the same teas will work or try Ti Kuan Yin for another complimentary flavor. If a brunch or dinner is planned, check out these other tea pairings based on your menu.
Most importantly, keep it simple and be authentic. Choose a meal or dessert that gives you time to visit rather than one that takes you away from your company. Let your guests know ahead of time if you want this to remain an informal event. This will let you relax a lot more too. Are you getting inspired yet? Who will you invite over? What will you serve?