Your presence is a blessing.
Think of the last time(s) someone stopped by your house unexpectedly or crashed dinner at the last minute or asked to stay over on a moment’s notice or needed a supportive phone call at an inopportune time.
How did you respond? Obviously, your response probably greatly varies based on who was doing the asking. But, back to the question. Were you inwardly rolling your eyes, grumbling about the inconvenience, and trying to come up with 37 ways to see yourself out of the situation?
Do we treat others as if they are a blessing or as if they are an imposition? There are no mistakes in God’s kingdom. No coincidences. We’ll never know here on earth why some people cross our path. Why we had an interaction with a stranger or why we were forced to take a detour. And that’s okay. God will let us know if we need to know.
In the midst of those seemingly life inconveniences, we are called to a posture of hospitality. As Peter clearly states in 1 Peter 4:9, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Seems simple enough. But, at times, I am clearly guilty of being in the grumble camp.
If we’re being hospitable, then we’re caring for others well. We’re loving them the best way we know how. We’re friendly. We’re generous with our resources, be it time, finances, or even knowledge. This could manifest in a plethora of forms, from the logistics of hosting a dinner in our home to helping out a stranger in an airport.
Maybe you were brought up with the belief that you’re an imposition. You were told the lies that you’re too much or you’re too demanding or you’re too emotional. You were made to feel that you were an inconvenience, even to your parents. You were treated as if you were just someone to be dealt with.
Because of these arduous experiences, maybe you hesitate to enter spaces with confidence and boldness for fear of replaying the past. You do your best to make yourself small so that you don’t make anyone else uncomfortable or put them out. Keeping yourself small doesn’t bless you nor does it bless others.
Trying saying to the next person God brings into your path,
“Your presence here is a blessing, not an imposition.”
How would that sentiment change how we welcomed them into our space? How would that sentiment impact alter how they entered our space?
Beloved daughter, your presence is always a blessing, not an imposition.
Be free,
Lani
