December 1, 2008

During the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to practice the gift of hospitality, and I have had the gift of forgiveness extended to me. Both of these gifts brought lessons with them, lessons I was grateful to learn.

For my first act of hospitality, I invited four of my sophomore students to my home on a Saturday morning to help them correct some speeches. However, I'd forgotten to take my watch to the gym with me that morning, and therefore arrived back home to find my students waiting for me outside my door. I was half an hour late. I felt bad and apologized profusely. My students, however, took it in stride and told me not to worry about it. One student, whose English name is “Spring,” told me that being a half-hour late for something is common in China. Their concern in trying to make me feel better after I'd made them wait 30 minutes in a cold stairwell was a tremendous gift, one that I didn't really feel I deserved, but was there for me anyway.

My second act of hospitality was hosting Thanksgiving dinner. I was proud of myself for cooking a dinner that managed to sate six Westerners' appetites, and I even had enough left over to feed a few students the following day. There were a few shortcomings though: first of all because there were no meat dishes (I've been a vegetarian since I was 14) and secondly because my fried sweet potatoes left something to be desired. Yet my friends proved incredibly forgiving on both counts, and afterwards even complimented me on the food I had prepared.

Then, a few days ago I had a visit from another student, whose English name is “Ailsa.” She wanted help with her speech for a speech contest. Our conversation eventually turned to the church that I attend here in Zhangye, and whether or not I like it. I said that while some cultural differences demand adjustments for a Westerner, I found Chinese people at my church very hospitable and welcoming. She said that she was happy for me, and that she was considering attending a service. I told her she was always welcome, either at church or in my home, and silently gave thanks to God for allowing me to be a witness for my faith again.

Just as Abraham met the LORD and his angels and received them into his home (Genesis 18:1-8), I have tried to welcome and serve God's children who have come to my home. Also, like Abraham, I have received many blessings by the presence of friends and students who have made themselves my guest. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve others in my home, and I pray that I can be as much of a blessing to them as they have been to me.

As the season of the Christ Child approaches, I know that many of you in the United States will be extending your hospitality to friends and family members. I too will be opening up my home to fellow Americans a few days before Christmas so that they may celebrate with friends at a party. My prayer for you is that you may find grace and unexpected blessings as you extend a hand of welcome to others, and that we all may find room in our hearts to accept the gifts others offer to us.

Held in God's welcoming arms,

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 99