“In Ireland, you go to someone’s house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you’re really just fine. She asks if you’re sure. You say of course you’re sure, really, you don’t need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don’t need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn’t mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it’s no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting. In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don’t get any tea. I liked the Irish way better.” ― C.E. Murphy
Face Time and Front Porches
I grew up in a neighborhood in Northeast Georgia where everyone knew one another. I couldn’t go jogging without stopping to chat to 3-4 neighbors along the way and hear the latest news about their families.
One of the greatest assets of my home growing up was our front porch. My parents sat out front every morning drinking their coffee and reading the newspaper.
Neighbors wandered by and didn’t think twice about stopping over to hang out on the porch with us and have some coffee, too. To this day, my parents still practice this morning ritual and even have a sugar jar ready for their friend who likes sugar in his coffee.
In the summer, my family spent most of our time on our dock at the lake – which is just another “front porch” for community to gather.
Making Reservations
When I first moved to the Washington D.C. area, one of my first observations was how busy everyone seemed to be. Power suits, power lunches, power naps, power everything, it seemed.
Sadly, it is easy for our lives to get so busy that we have no room for spontaneous hospitality any more. We may see every knock on our front door as an interruption to our well-scheduled lives. But this should not be the case!
Jesus often stopped what he was doing to minister to one person. One person in a crowd of thousands was still important to Him. Still worthy of his unique attention and affection. His second greatest commandment (after loving God) was “love your neighbor as yourself.”
You simply cannot love your neighbor without knowing them and interacting in their lives.
A Life that Says “Welcome”
Today I live in an AMAZING neighborhood once again. The people in Cheverly, Maryland are an “open door-can I bring you a meal?-pull up a chair and stay awhile” kind of people. And they truly make my heart sing. I can’t walk anywhere without running into someone I know or someone I haven’t met who will soon become a friend.
There’s a time to close our doors and have family time. There’s a time for personal solitude. And scheduling definitely has its place (as a mom of three kids I know this well!)
But I often ponder what we as a family can adjust in our lives and schedules so that there is ample time and room for guests to pop in unexpectedly and have a cup of tea? to hang out in our yard and ride our swing? to spontaneously swing by and end up staying for dinner?
You may not have a front porch, but your home still sends a message to everyone who walks by it. Does your life and home speak “I’m open! Come on over!” or do passers-by get the unspoken but clear message “Stay away – we’re busy”?
You don’t lots of Martha Stuart stuff or an immaculate home to be a good host. All you need is an open door, a smile, and a hot cup of tea – just a life that says “you’re welcome here!”
