08/12/2026
Some purposes are handed to you when you are least expecting them.
At one of my bridal showers, my friends were tasked with giving me a mug that represented who they were. After the gifts were opened the group prayed for me and the words of hospitality were spoken over me. I remember the tears coming in quickly as I felt ill equipped for such a purpose. A young 20 something who had yet to cook a full meal for anyone.. that thought of serving others in my home felt, well, daunting.
I grew up watching my mother host countless friends and strangers for holidays, prayer meetings, graduations.. you name it, but I believed that was her gift, not mine. At that bridal shower, in that room, I was surrounded by women who had hosted me for meals and even cared for me as I healed from sickness. I was far away from home and they were my new examples of hospitality.
In the last 20 years of our marriage it’s safe to say, Tim and I have hosted thousands of people. Partially because for the last 6 years we’ve hosted a public event on the farm known as Flower Farm Day. We attempt to count the number of people who come each year and it nears 500 almost every time. We believe this farm was placed in our care to share it with others and we do our best to do that. Not only for our business but also for ministry.
In one of my favorite books, Practicing the Way, by John Mark Comer he talks about how Jesus is typically either going to a meal, at a meal or leaving a meal. He argues that hospitality and ministry go hand in hand. In other words, it is difficult to do one, without the other.
We were in ministry separately for the first several years of our marriage and when we moved back home to Missouri it became more of a joint calling and we’ve found ourselves hosting over and over again. We don’t have the perfect kitchen island to line with food or a giant basement to sleep a bunch of teens but we use what we have and make it work.
Sometimes that means our son sets up a tent in the yard to house all of his friends for a sleepover. It’s amazing to watch your kids pick up the mantle and host their friends. Just as I grew up watching my Mom and Dad open our home countless times, our kids have watched us do the same and as teenagers they already know what being hospitable means.
Not because we told them or because we did it perfectly but because we showed them it’s all about using what you have and making the best of it.
So if you are waiting for that perfect kitchen, or for the finished basement I hope you’ll take a chance and just use what you have instead. The meaning of hospitality is “the love of a guest”. So just start with love and the rest will fall into place.
…and I sincerely hope you will let us host you, one month from today at our 6th Annual Flower Farm Day event!
