By Sharon Wilson
Untitled by Rita E via Pixabay. CCO Creative Commons.
I don’t know about you but I love a party and I love to host parties. Gathering friends around for special moments is a wonderful part of the Christmas season. Parties take preparation and that is what Advent is about – preparing for the feast.
Preparation includes arranging for and cooking the food. Planning the drinks, decorating and making sure everyone has a place to sit. It may require rearranging a room, polishing the silver or plates from a friend. There are centerpieces to think about and…. the list goes on.
I have a friend who has the spiritual gift of hospitality. No matter what is going on in her life, when you enter her home you always feel welcome. It helps that she is an excellent cook! One day she shared with me a secret of her party prep.
She prays!
She prays for every guest that is coming, she prays for good and enlightening conversation, she prays for all to feel welcomed and loved. Sitting quietly and praying before 6 or 20 people are set to arrive at my house is not something I usually turn to in the frenzy of last minute prep but when I did it, it put my heart in the right place. I focused on my guests and not if my hors d’oeuvres would get a compliment or that no one notices the stain in the carpet. Those worries are all wrong because they are focused on me and not on my guests.
When preparing for a party I think of a favorite passage from today’s readings.
On this mountain, the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
Isaiah 25:6
A feast of rich food and choice wines! This is what God promises us!
This Advent as you prepare for your feasts – add prayer to your party preparation. It is one thing that isn’t mentioned in the Martha Stewart handbook!
About the Author:
Sharon Wilson – Wife, Mother, Writer, Catholic Speaker, and a WINE Specialist. Sharon has a degree in education and has worked as a freelance writer, Respect Life Coordinator, a teacher, in advertising, radio, buyer and in youth advocacy – She even rode an elephant in the circus once! Sharon speaks, writes and shares about God’s healing and about the great gift of being Catholic.
Hi sharen:
Good morning. Very good thoughts to think Abbott . . My house is always a diseater when people come over. If I know someone is comeing, I talk to the lord about the house to be cleaned but it is not always finished. Prayed for me as I pray for u.Pray for me. Alice Godbold
Beautiful article, Sharon. I love the idea of praying for my guests ahead of their arrival! Thank you!
This is excellent information for us all and especially during the Christmas season when we gather over and over with family and friends! Thanks you.
What a simple action … to pray for each of our guests before they arrive. A great way to quell those pre-party jitters. I’m employing this now. Thank you Sharon!