There she was, sitting in a corner by herself.
As she aimlessly ruffled the pages of her science folder, her sweet face turned downward showing no expression. My heart tightened as I glanced around the room.
Everywhere I looked girls giggled, moms chatted, and boys gobbled the remainders of pizza left over from our home school group’s party.
But she sat.
Alone.
Invisible.
UN-invited.
I scurried to her trying to make up for lost time, yet I knew that as the leader of her group and not a peer; it wasn’t quite the same.
Just last week, her mom shared with me that her daughter didn’t feel like she fit in, and yesterday, the evidence smacked of it.
We all have that young girl bottled up somewhere in us, and personally being involved with women’s ministry, I’m struck again and again how we wrestle with those feelings.
It makes me wonder what would happen if we purposed in our heart to attack this very issue?
Just how much could we change our culture if we would all make room for one more?
Let’s expand this further and include our families.
Imagine the ripple effect that would occur if we modeled the “Make Room for One More” philosophy to our children, our extended family, and even our co-workers.
What if each one of us who reads this post, looks with intention over the course of the next three days and pinpoints one person to invite out for lunch, coffee, or even Easter dinner. Not someone we already know well, or have been meaning to get together with, but someone outside of our comfort zone of friends.
An invitation that only gives, not an invitation where we hope to receive. (Luke 14:12-14)
Over the last few years, our extended family has evoked the “Make Room for One More” philosophy at all our holiday gatherings. We’ve hosted international students, refugees, a remarkable woman without a home, a displaced single dad, and even many Islamic guests.
What wonderful memories we’ve shared with new friends of so many varying cultures, world views and philosophies, all because we encouraged each other to make room for one more.
Initially, when we began this tradition, my knee jerk reaction turned inward. My desire to share the holidays with just our special family, and not strangers, skewed my thinking. It was about my comfort, my traditions, and my idea of intimate hospitality. Oh, I am so glad the Holy Spirit convicted me of that selfishness or my family would have missed out on so much.
Last year, I shared this in a post. “Community isn’t about just being together, it’s about doing LIFE together.”
Often, I’m at a conference with hundreds of people, yet feel completely alone. Community isn’t about just being around people, that can be awfully lonely, it’s about doing Life intimately with people, or at least opening that door.
It’s found in these little moments, these life giving opportunities such as making room for one more, even when you don’t want to (1 Peter 4:9), when true community occurs.
You may not know it then. You may not ever know the long-term outcome from your invitation. They may even say, “No,” but it matters. The invitation matters. A lot!
I can already hear you wrestling with this challenge.
My home isn’t big enough.
Our finances are tight.
I’m already swamped trying to do the Easter meal for my own family.
No home is too small that one more can not be invited. Cozy is the new grand.
If anyone can speak to hospitality on a budget, it’s me. I realized during our one year of unemployment, that making room for one more doesn’t have to cost a lot. One of my most memorable moments of Spontaneous Hospitality was a root beer float party. Yep, that’s all we served and we had a delightfully, delicious time.
Not only can you entertain well on a budget, but the best part of spontaneous hospitality, which definitely fits into inviting someone for Easter dinner category, is that your guests understand it’s last minute and everyone’s expectations are lowered. The pressure is off.
If you are already fretting about preparing the Easter meal for your family, and just issuing this challenge brings more guilt, you may possibly be over-complicating your menu.
At 10 Minute Dinners, I have a wealth of easy dinner ideas, but it’s at my lifestyle blog where you’ll find answers for Easter meal planning. By just adding a few more eggs to this Easy Elegant Egg Bake, which mixes up in five minutes, you can make room for an entire family, not just one more. Add my favorite Copy Cat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole to the menu, along with a fruit salad, topped with a quick and easy dessert idea,and you are set to extend not just hospitality, but a wonderful meal.
(For more Easter ideas, traditions and meal plans, check right here at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.)
Will you join me? Will you make room for one more?
Someone that you will encounter this week is lonely. Someone doesn’t have a place to go for Easter.
Honestly, it may be you, but you just might be the very conduit to which someone else meets Jesus for the first time.
Take this opportunity to practice biblical hospitality and begin with that one invitation. It just takes one to create that ripple effect.
(This hangs as a reminder to embrace it all.)
Do Life together.
Do it well. Do it messy. Do it often, but Do the hard thing and Make Room for One More.
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If you live in the NC area, I invite you to join me for (in)RL on April 27 at our NC homestead. Yes, you’ll get to see the home of all our beauty and bedlam in one place.
Are you joining us for (in)RL? Nearly 500 (in)rl meet ups are occurring simultaneously around the whole world. We are surely making room for one more and we want it to be you. Check to sign up for a location near you.
It’s going to be a special weekend, and we pray that you can join us.
Shared by Jen Schmidt, Balancer of Both Beauty and Bedlam, 10 Minute Dinners
Leave a Comment
tami says
Yea for inviting international guests!! It is the easiest way to be a light to the nations! (plus, I’ll tell you a secret: they don’t know or care how exactly that turkey should be roasted at thanksgiving and don’t know that those lumps aren’t supposed to be in the gravy!!) I would remind folks, though, that if you are serving ham or other pork products, your Muslim guest won’t be able to eat it; try to make sure your meat was butchered kosher–then you are ready for anyone! Last week, my friend told me of a very simple Thanksgiving that she’d invited an international couple to, including dinner and a leisurely walk together afterwards. The invited wife said to her, “This has been the best day I’ve had since we moved to America.” They had been here for years! YOU can give someone their best day, and maybe even the Truth of eternal life!!
Jen (Balancing Beauty and Bedlam) says
Oh Tami –
It’s so true. We’ve had the most unbelievable international celebrations with people from all over the world and they are so very appreciative for every little bit offered. But even if they weren’t, it still matters. 🙂
Kimberly says
You’ve issued a real challenge here! Hospitality is one area I struggle with, and I love your ideas to simplify it and make it more doable. I don’t have too many excuses left!
Donna says
I’ ve stepped out of my comfort zone this Easter and into the faith zone. I have a blended family of nine children. Most of them are adults now. One of our adult daughters has a husband out of state for training, compliments of the US Army. Her mom, aka my husbands ex, is staying with her to help her for two weeks. I called her and invited them to our family Easter dinner and egg hunt. Of course I cleared it with my husband first…but I did it. I don’t know if they will make it, but they were very appreciative of the offer, and one of my 14 year old daughters looked at me and said, “mom, that was the right thing to do.” I’m looking forward to a wonderful celebration.
Jen (Balancing Beauty and Bedlam) says
OH Donna – that brings tears to my eyes.
Thank you for making room for one more, and wow, what a one it is.
I can’t even imagine how difficult it was for you, but look at what that ONE invite modeled for your daughter. You have planted something into your 14 year old daughter’s heart that will grow throughout a life time.
Have a blessed Easter Sunday.
Jaz says
Thank you for writing this post.
I’m very much like the girl you mentioned in your post. I still haven’t found a place where i can belong and grow in Christ. It’s a blessing to have someone like you to invite others, even outside your friendship zone, to join you.
Karen says
We make a special point to do this on Christmas Eve. What a blessing it has been to host folks around our table on what can be a very lonely night. You are so right that sometimes they say “No.”, but it is the invitation that means the world!
Amanda says
Such an important and needed reminder! Thank you for this Jennifer… I just love your heart for serving!
Missy June says
I love this post – an want to encourage everyone to say yes, if you happen to be the ONE MORE! It’s uncomfortable to be on that side, too!
Marina says
Yay!! Although my family growing up were not believers, we always had room for one more. I have passed it on to our kids, and included an array of folks from many walks in life!
My favorite so far: Thanksgiving with international students!! Most have never eaten turkey before, and it’s an easy day to infuse our thankfulness to God!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Marina says
Yay!!
My favorite so far: Thanksgiving with international students!! Most have never eaten turkey before, and it’s an easy day to infuse our thankfulness to God!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Lesley says
After being the girl who didn’t fit in, its one of the things I first look for in the room – whoever is by themselves. It was such a relief when I found authentic community that loved and accepted me as I was, and it compels me now to extend that to other people. Thank you for the awesome reminder of making room for one more!
Erica says
A few years ago I invited a family that I had never met face to face to dinner. Her husband was deployed, and she was new to the area. It was loud, but I have six kids so it is always loud, it was fun.
I’ve gotten away from having parties and get-togethers because life gets in the way (college, trying to keep the house clean, obligations), but I need to remember that in a house of 8 people, 3 cats, and 2 dogs there is always room for more.
Jennifer H says
Years ago, a friend & I ventured to a bigger church for a ladies function open to the community. They had decorated tables with themes for the names of God. My friend & I laughed as we sat at what we called “The Lonely Horn of Salvation” table…but the sad part was that no one even ventured over to greet us from the big church! The blessing was that the speaker came over and sat with us since we had plenty of seats available, so we enjoyed that thoroughly! And I remember that experience any time I talk to my daughter about being aware of others and friendly toward others! We don’t have to be become best friends, but we can be friends, and who knows when it might spark a wonderful friendship! Thanks for your wonderful blog full of all sorts of timeless stories & ideas!
Beth Williams says
I took a co-worker out to lunch. I don’t know her well, but God put it on me to pay for her meal. We came back talked and had a good time.
My hubby and I don’t enterain much, we try to help others out as much as possible and show Christ to the world!!
Michelle says
I love this post! Even on a tight budget, it is easy to include others. For Valentine’s Day, I used the Starbucks gift card I was given at Christmas (I’m not a big Starbucks drinker) and brought coffee to the women at work who are single. One of our most talked about “family” (meaning anyone and everyone who has nowhere else to go) dinners was the breakfast for dinner feast at Christmas time.
Jenni says
I, too, am always on the lookout for the lonely person in the room, the one who isn’t making eye contact or smiling or talking to anyone. God called us into His family, so I have no reason to not do the same with the folks around me.
I just love the quote about doing life together. I invited everyone I knew to a Bible study at my house that starts next week, and I have about 8 ladies from all walks of life that will be doing life together through this study of God’s Word. I can’t wait to see how the Lord will use our time together. =)
Sharon says
I love this! We have often lived far away from our family, so during the times (usually holidays) that families typically gather we have invited others to join us at our home. Oh, how rich it has been and what a wonderful way to deepen relationships.
Kimberly says
This is something that really spoke to me as I really struggled in the past with being a hostess. So much so that my mother-in-law, my husband’s aunt, and my husband all expressed to me after my husband left me last year that even his family did not feel welcome in our home. It’s never been that I’ve left A person out, I left EVERYONE out. Now I’m in a better place and am willing to welcome others into my home but I’ve not had much of an opportunity to because I pushed a lot of people away over the years. Even with apologies and invitations most of them stay away (unless it’s Christmas or my children’s birthday). This post made me realize that I may need to look beyond the obvious people and start to welcome those that I wouldn’t normally reach out to to begin with. I’m looking forward to, and believing in, the day that I can welcome my husband back home and others into our home as well!