Bekah's Bookshelf

 

It feels like forever since I shared a book update with you. July and August did not lend themselves to extended times of reading, yet I tried to read just a little bit every day.

            The only book I finished in those months was written by Jen Schmidt and is called Just Openthe Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation.

            Several months ago, I’d stumbled upon a post with some book recommendations about hospitality from a Christian perspective. How can we be hospitable? I’m always wanting to learn more about this subject, so I put a handful of those books on my wish list. I purchased one back in the spring with some birthday money and read it throughout this summer.

            The fact that it took me a few weeks to get through it had nothing to with how interesting the book was and everything to do with my demanding schedule. Jen Schmidt is a blogger and author and has had years of experience opening her home to friends and family. She wrote this book to try to encourage others to stop being paralyzed by the need to offer perfection and instead, simply open the door to welcome in the community around them.

            Throughout the book, she shares stories of time when she practiced hospitality very intentionally and other times when she did so spontaneously. From having a house (and yard!) full of people when a tornado warning sounded to allowing others to take up short term residence in her home to making space for a hurting friend, Jen has practiced all versions of hospitality.

            While she loves a good craft and theme as much as the next person, she doesn’t require polished presentation to offer a seat at her table.

            I appreciate her drive to not only practice what she preaches, but to also intentionally teach it to the next generation. It has been important for her to teach her children how to be hospitable to their friends while they were still living at home with her.

            I used to think everything had to be perfect to have company, and along the way, I (thankfully) lost that barrier to my own hospitality. But even so, I learned much from Jen about being willing to be used by God in this way to impact the lives of others.

            If hospitality is a struggle for you (at all…or offering anything less than a Pinterest-perfect party) her words can offer you so much freedom. She also offers practical tips on how to go about opening the door of your heart and home to those around you.

            I’m excited to read the other books on hospitality too, but I am really glad I purchased this one. It’s a keeper for my library – a reminder of how to do this welcoming thing well.

            May fall bring more time for reading again!