"Honey, they're here..."

Response: "Who is here?"

While I cannot say I have tons of experience in this area, I can only imagine how some of us feel when this happens. Yes - when people turn up unexpectedly in your home but your husband had been expecting them all the while and possibly forgot to inform you that he had "invited" people over or simply overlooked to assuming you'd be "fine" with it...Ok I know this happened more than once in the Bible. In Genesis 18, Abraham saw three men in the distance and invited them home and Sarah was clueless about it; I like how God's Word Translation puts it:

Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, Quick, take a sack of your best flour, and bake some bread. Then he ran to the herd and picked out a calf that was tender and fat, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to get it ready. He took some cream, some milk, and the meat, and set the food before the men. There under the tree he served them himself, and they ate. (verses 6-8)

It is note worthy that he lost no time in informing Sarah first - by himself - that he needed her to make some bread. Then he chose the best calf and mobilized one of his servants to prepared it. When everything was done, he went one step further to serve their guests himself. What a gift to a woman - a man who helps her!

Now, I know there are some superb husbands - like mine - who help out now and again and some husbands are "struggling" wondering why they need to help. Without belabouring the point, suffice it to say: "Helping others is one way of demonstrating love" and of course charity (love) should begin at home.

As Mrs. Pastor, we are expected to rise to the occassion and be hospitable - to expected and unexpected guests. I wonder how long it took Sarah to make the bread knowing that they didn't have the appliances and quick-fix mixes we have these days. Or even the time to butcher then "dress" the calf. Now, that would have been a long visit. I can't begin to imagine how she may have felt. Can you?

From personal experience, I know it is not always easy to be hospitable (& happy about such surprises), but it is possible if we have the right attitude. The right attitude includes using kind words when asking our husbands to minimize such surprises or even to be there with us in the kitchen...and that's a good start.

P.S.
Easter is this coming weekend - I wonder if this will happen to any of us...hmm.