Hosting for the Holidays

I came across this familiar story today, bringing fresh reminder just in time for the holidays.  

Jesus and his friends are travelling.  They need a place to eat, clean up, and rest. A woman by the name of Martha opens the door to her house, welcomes him and makes him feel quite at home.

So far so good.

An ordinary house turned home turned hospitality hub.  This woman, Martha, knows what she is doing. I wonder if her last name is Stewart.  She is competent, confident, and off the charts capable.  Some people may find her a bit intimidating and perhaps a bit bossy. But, without a doubt, if anybody can pull off this a-couple-dozen-strong-horde-of-hungry-guests surprise hospitality stunt, Martha can.

We also find out that Martha has a sister, Mary.

Like most brothers and sisters, even though they come from the same gene pool, have grown up under the same roof, they are different. Very different.

There is no question who is the type A, the dominant one. 

Martha knows exactly what it takes to make a house a home, and then turn it into a hospitality hub.  And she does it.

For it takes a lot of work to make this happen. The shopping list. The to-do list. Silver to polish. Tables to set. Hors d’Oeuvres to prepare. The list grows by the seconds, for Martha is not satisfied by just providing a simple meal.  She is the Pinterest queen of those little extra finishing touches. 

The place-card holders with beautifully calligraphied names.  

The specially selected wine goblet charms. 

The fresh-cut flowers centerpiece and the pillar candles.

The aboves and the beyonds, the thoughtful details that make people gasp the Ooooh-s and the Aaaah-s.. 

But, all this adds up. So much to do, so little time.