While we were in Nashville, one of the girls told us about a couple of young men who would be coming through Georgia, traveling from Ohio to Florida - on the very night we would be getting home. We've known one the guy's family for a long time and would love to visit. I didn't hesitate to offer them a place to spend the night, that's what I do. But I did have to think seriously about my pride. When we left, our house was in a "picked up" condition, not company ready. Mary and Lydia's room is the guest room, and I've had their room on my 'to-do' list for quite a while because it was a mess. (Not completely their fault. I had pulled down the Spring clothes and never organized them. Someone said it looked like a clothing store had exploded.)
So, when we got home at 10:30 that night, Mary shoved everything in her closet and cleaned the bathroom. That was the best she could do before the guys arrived. The visit was nice and no one commented about the closet door that couldn't be pushed open. I swallowed my pride and started cleaning their closet immediately after they left. It was a good reminder that I needed to manage my home better.
During the past few months of study on hospitality, I have gleaned so much from many books. The one thing that stands out the most is for me to manage my home. If I am a diligent homemaker, I won't find too many times when I'm surprised by a mess. Yes, I knew our company would see suitcases and such. But they shouldn't have seen piles of clothes and papers that needed to be put away. I am responsible to see that it's done, not that I have to do everything, but gets done. So as I continue to practice hospitality, I hope that it will be easier in the future while I am 'managing' my home that God has given me.
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