SEASON 3, EPISODE 12, “LITTLE LOST GIRL”

25

COMMUNITY, NOT PERFECTION

“It won’t be fancy, but we’ve got plenty.”

—CAROLINE INGALLS

Perfectionism prevents many of us from opening our homes. The pressure to provide good food in an enjoyable setting overwhelms us. Caroline Ingalls has something to teach us about hospitality. Having people to our homes—large or small, fancy or casual—is about togetherness. Nothing else.

When our kids were young, we didn’t get out much. We missed movie dates and quiet nights together, but even more, we missed having people over. Overwhelmed by diapers and laundry, with toys everywhere, I didn’t have the energy to clean the house and cook a killer dinner for company.

One night Josh said, “Let’s start Sunday night dinners at our house.”

After my panic subsided, I realized he was speaking wisdom. He knew we needed encouragement and fun with other couples. So we opened our front door to guests on Sunday evenings. We didn’t think of these meals as dinner parties, but rather as time to enjoy friends and food. We invited couples and singles to come and hang out. The important thing was not what filled our stomachs, or how spotless the house was, but what filled our hearts.

Some nights a busy schedule or a slim pantry made the idea seem impossible, but it always worked out. I had to resist the urge to over-clean. We didn’t need a flawless house. What we needed was people around us, people with a sparkle in their eyes. We longed for conversation around the table, even if we had to step over toys to get there.

I’ll never forget those nights: card games and homemade ice cream and lifting up prayers around our big wooden table. Something happens when we do life with other people, when we walk alongside them through life’s ups and downs. Our hearts began to beat for those around us, not just ourselves. We prayed fervently for each other and came to the rescue when someone needed help. It was community at its finest.

We are missing out on wonderful fellowship when we let perfectionism keep us from having people over. Caroline’s style of hospitality is a good one: simple food with friends is more important than a fancy meal we’re too tired to enjoy. Our friends don’t see the dusty shelves and baseboards. They long for community, not perfection.

Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer.

ACTS 2:42 TPT

Do you let perfectionism keep you from inviting people over? Who are the people you would like to fellowship with? Mark your calendar and have some folks over for dinner.