Strangers




 I got to test myself a bit this week.


My neighbor’s daughter was getting married and they had asked if I could house a guest Saturday night.  


I quickly agreed, knowing their home would be overflowing with family. 


The young bride sent me an urgent text at 10:50 pm on Friday night.


She is here🫣🫣🫣🫣

Didn’t know she was coming tonight

I’m so sorry. She is at my house right now.

I’m out at the venue 


I froze.  I had offered my home but the sheets weren’t on the bed, the bathroom wasn’t wiped down and I was in my pajamas in bed!


I jumped up and looked at the living room with piles of tomorrow tasks and the vacuum idly waiting for me to remember it.  The kitchen sink still had pots from two nights ago.


I felt a wave of panic.  


And then I took a deep breath and thought of a young girl traveling to support her friend.


“I was a stranger and ye took me in.”


I kind of wanted to shout back at the Spirit “I know! But can you give me a minute?”


Stupid scriptures!!


I picked up my phone and texted back:


Okay tell her she can come overr  in 10 minutes.  I will get up and dressed:)….


And I went into surprise guest turbo mode.  


I put the fresh linens on and fluffed the pillows.  


A swish of the toilet and a general clearing of the counter and tossing it all under the sink plus some disinfectant and paper towels prepped the bathroom and I hung a clean towel.


And the doorbell rang.


I looked around and sighed and then smiled.  


I walked down the stairs cheering myself on. 


It’s okay.  Just smile and welcome her.


“Hello.  Welcome to our home.” I spread my arms toward the piles on the table and smiled.  “We live here but make yourself at home.”


She stayed for two nights and we ended up being wedding buddies.  


The situation for sure stretched me, but I know it did her too.  We ended up having aome beautiful conversations. 


And this morning when she left, this note was on the bed.


She needed a place.  Not perfection.  A lesson I’m still working on.


Once we welcome strangers, they will never be strangers again.


Perhaps “company ready” has more to do with how I act and receive people than if there is dust on the baseboards or dishes in the sink.

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