Holiday Doors, Tables and Time

Holiday Doors, Tables and Time By Roxanne Hughes Packham and Hannah Packham The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. I know you might be cringing while reading this because it can also be a crazy busy time and has the potential to be very stressful. I think I can help! As my daughter and I have started writing our second book, Holy Hospitality (the working title), and speaking at churches and events, I have realized most women get really stressed out when thinking about having people over during this season! That is, until they realize it’s all about the guests. I know your brain knows this, but does your heart? Let it soak in. It’s not about the actual presentation. It’s about the occasion and what you are really preparing for—gathering with family and friends. Doesn’t this make it enjoyable and, might I dare say, exciting? Does your heart beat faster to know that, when you open the door to your home, you might actually be opening up the door to relationships, encouragement, hope and even a life with Christ? Do you experience the excitement of knowing that, when you set the table, this might be where the life-changing conversation will happen? When you are decorating your front door with a wreath and garland and making it festive and attractive, you are actually highlighting the physical object that may invite real community and relationships! I know I have quite an imagination, but it’s true. It has changed my whole enthusiasm for design and hospitality. I have become fascinated about all the scriptures that reference doors. One of my favorite verses is Matthew 7:7. Knock and the door WILL be opened...what a fabulous promise. Take a moment to think about that! We absolutely know that this passage isn’t about the design, but it is what draws people in, and most obviously the front door physically allows people in. So, why not make it inviting? Another entry point into relationships is the place where most conversations happen with families—the table. Making it beautiful is just another way to draw people in. We’ll address that in more detail in our second holiday article, as that is another whole conversation. So take some time at the beginning of this Christmas season to think about opening the door to relationships and how a well-designed entry can help. Instead of getting stressed out about decorating, invite your creativity to kick in, keep it simple with garland and a wreath and be the catalyst by opening doors to new relationships. www.inspireddesignpublications.com ~ http://inspired31.org