I have been loving Sandy’s blog for a couple years now, she has taught me so much about hospitality, you must check it out if you haven’t already. You are going to love her!
Here is a quote from one of the newspaper’s she was featured in:
“Hospitality is not about having the best or newest or most beautiful,” says Reluctant Entertainer Sandy Coughlin. “It’s about sharing your heart and home with others.”
Leave her some Praise and Coffee love with a comment here and then hop on over and check out her website, click on logo:
Her husband has a ministry for men too, check it out here: Paul Coughlin
When Perfect and New Wears Off …
Usually when I’m asked to be a guest blogger, I like to talk about a party or food. But when Sue asked me, I just knew I could take my most recent experience and find spiritual value to it. Let me start here …
It was over 5 years ago that we enjoyed a brand new kitchen at our old home that we lived in for 10 years.
I remember the freshness of moving in, unpacking from the garage, having brand-new – and feeling on top of the world.
Then life became … reality. The kitchen, that once was sparkling new, didn’t seem that new any more. The glitter of it all started to fade as I still had to do dishes, my stacks of “stuff” piled up on the counters, the kids made huge messes, the cupboards needed wiping down, my busy life left it looking not so pretty anymore.
Those of you who have followed my blog know that we’re on the cusp of enjoying another new kitchen in our current home. It’s been a long process to get it done, doing much of the work ourselves, but I’m getting that taste of “newness” and “freshness” and I’m thinking my life will be happier when … my new kitchen is done. Not!
I want to remember the lesson I learned with the old. My happiness doesn’t lie in perfect or new. Because perfect and new wears off, it becomes old, rather quickly, and as life settles in again – I know I must keep my priorities straight.
So as the newness fades, I need to stop quickly and remind myself that it’s what goes on in our kitchen that really matters. It’s about the love that is transpired, the bonding with friends and family that is inspired, the nourishment that will be provided and shared together. It’s sitting back and relaxing; what I call sharing the common life.
God blesses us all with exactly what we have each day. It’s perfect for the day, whether in old or new, and He meets our needs, down to the finest details.
I want to daily create a place of love, in the heart of my home, called “the kitchen”, where food is served, and real sharing takes place.
Luke 12:29-31
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns met.”
The Message Bible
Sandy Coughlin • 4 Reluctant Entertainers • real entertaining • for • real people • www.reluctantentertainer.com reluctantentertainer@yahoo.com
