Welcome back to 31 Days to Less Stress! Saturdays have been set aside to talk about relationships and stress. It is so fitting that today I planned to talk about spending time with others (outside of family) because I have been at the Allume Conference since Thursday, and the theme for this year’s conference is hospitality.
Over and over again, I’ve heard how hospitality means “love for strangers.” God created us with a desire to connect. When Jesus came, he connected with people. So often we let stress hinder our connecting with others. My house isn’t clean. I don’t have time. I wouldn’t know what to say. What if they don’t like me. So, we put up these barriers and end up lonely.
The reality is that we judge ourselves far more harshly than others. Today, Leeana Tankersley said “Have we learned not to bully ourselves?” We need to be kinder and gentler to ourselves, and let that spill over into a kindness and gentleness for others. God lovingly created each of us. We should embrace the beauty and forget about the imperfections.
Hospitality can get messy, but life is messy. If we keep running around trying to clean up the mess, we will miss out on the relationships. Stop worrying about the mess. Stop chasing after an ever-elusive state of perfection and just love. Love those around you. Don’t be so busy that you can’t be warm and inviting.
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