Hospitality Remembered

I will always appreciate, that my mother shared my sister and I with her in-laws, my grandparents.  She said she did so, because she knew they loved us..........

These old pictures are from 80 years ago, my grandparents in their prime, and my daddy, the little boy.

 Staying in their home remains a favorite memory for both my sister and me.  Grannie's home was hospitable. (see my poem in memory*) It was our home away from home, and we knew we were loved.  The words, the routines, the hugs, the food, all spoke comfort and stability to our young hearts, and we slurped it up like greedy puppies, not that we lacked in our home of origin. 

My daughter recently told me that she liked it when her brother and sister-in-law visited  our home because then I "cook like a Grannie."  I felt complimented.  I felt under no obligation to maintain that celebratory standard of hospitality in day to day ordinary life, but I do highly value the power of sweet hospitality, and this blog is a place that I will have fun sharing  some of my hospitality successes.  Guest accommodations can be purposeful, or incidental, accidental, expensive, or economical and none the less contribute to tone of welcome, comfort, love and joy.  This is the goal of Grandma Mary Martha.

I think it is interesting, and somewhat inspiring and humorous, what I  learned about hospitality in Jewish tradition :

"In the Torah it affirms that Abraham always kept all four sides of his tent open, for guests to easily enter."

'In Midash Tehillim it states, "On the day a guest arrives, a calf is slaughtered in his honor: the next day, a sheep, the third day, a fowl, on the fourth day, he is served just beans (23:3)'

Hahahahaha......... Girls you don't have to feel inadequate or guilty for not wanting your guests to stay forever, but may your home be welcoming for visitors in love or need.

Grandma Mary Martha wishes you happy, practical, fun, humble hostessing 💝

* Poem honoring hospitality at my grandparents' house:
90% of my memories of them were at their home, or church with them.  There is POWER in grand parenting, and hospitality!!

Deep inside my heart

beneath realities of present time

lays the sentimental memory

of grandparents that were mine

I only had them both

'til I was just past 26

and let me tell you for sure

No better Grannie and Grandpa

could I ever have picked

From my memory as a child

with love it is my pleasure to recall

vision and feeling I shared with them

and what I learned and saw

From their good example

and the love they poured on me

I think most importantly

I learned LOVE is the hopeful key

I always knew they'd love me

I always knew they'd care

What a gift to have that

and with them, those years to share!

I remember them visiting us 

Ingleside, Bayside.... me crossing Robstown street

But I think going to their house

was my most favorite treat

An old wooden frame house

Never and air conditioner it knew

Stocked with the necessities

and always something to do

Cooking or cleaning with Grannie

or learning of quilting scraps

Her helping us to make 

our own creative toy

or sitting on her lap

or upstairs taking nap

hanging our with Grannie

I felt not much age gap

I could tell her anything

and often, so I would

She'd always love and care

and give good advice 'bout how I should...

Three other granddaughters, 

and a grandson that was grown

towards all of us

adoring love was shown

My grandpa was always there

Often sitting in his old brown chair

Never saying much,

but a powerful presence there

He always read his Bible

"Thank you God, for that scene"

My Grandpa and his Bible,

lamplight, magnifying glass...

I enjoyed him so much as 

I got much older,

and we could discuss things

shoulder to shoulder

He always had a comment,

if 'bout God and Jesus

you cared to talk

"Thank you God, for Grandpa,

that I could see his Christian walk."

Quite tall and very handsome

They used to call him Slim

Grandpa was strong and serious

I cherished my time with him

He conducted himself beyond reproach

even until the end

He was always ready to lend a hand

to any friend or kin

Faithfully Grannie and Grandpa went to church

They sat in the AMEN pew

They lived by their example

what I aspire to do:

Teach children

what's important

about God and family

Help them build inside this life

Sweet memories of days gone by

and relationship with Christ

that will carry to the afterlife

The old garage out back

has crumbled to the ground

Grannie and Grandpa's body

for longtime hasn't been around

But "Thank God for this, their memory

of two precious silver hair folks

who showed me how to love

and who's lives can teach

'bout love, forgiveness,

grace and blessings from ABOVE."

It seems almost half my life

I've now been with out 'em

But love is forever

I love 'em just the same

I'm ready to go see 'em again

when the good Lord calls my name

....................................................................

There is power in hospitality folks!
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts💖