Yesterday I asked the question, “What defines your home when it comes to hospitality?”

Do you have an open door policy?

Do you panic when visitors arrive and your house is in a shambles?

I was so encouraged recently when I heard a respected mother in our church say, “The greatest compliment anyone can give me is if they feel free to take a nap on my couch.”

Think about that.

Nap couch

The greatest compliment, to her, is not when people praise the tidiness of her home.  It is not when they verbally admire the decor or her cooking abilities.

It is when they show that they feel comfortable.  Warmly welcomed.  Part of the family.

It’s when they catch her silent message that “my home is your home.”

May this be an encouragement to all of us to care less about appearance and more about the warmth of the welcome.

This is Day 24 of ‘Defining Home in 31 Days.’  Click here to see the contents page for this series.

Photo credit: Miranda Rush