Hospitality

On Sunday the preacher's text was 1 Peter 4: 1-11.  He concluded by brief reference to the various outcomes of living for God.  They really do deserve attention (especially the qualifying comments):
          - Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray
          - Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sons.
          - Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling
          - Use whatever gift you have received to serve others........

Later that day, we discovered an email with an urgent plea for someone to host the local Baptist ministers' wives group meeting on the evening of November 14th.  This is a group Carol has only attended once before, but I noticed she was tapping away on her ipad. 'What are you doing?' I said. 'I'm saying that if no one else volunteers the group can come here.   It will be a squeeze but it would be giving hospitality!'  We chuckled as we remembered the sermon challenge and the rider - without grumbling.

And, because no one else has come forward....it is happening!  An immediate opportunity to offer hospitality.  And there had better be no grumbling!   As Carol said: 'You can go upstairs!'