Monday, September 18, 2017

Kindness and Hospitality

“True hospitality is marked by an open response to the dignity of each and every person.  Henri Nouwen has described it as receiving the stranger on his own terms, and asserts that it can be offered only by those who ‘have found the center of their lives in their own hearts.’”
~ Kathleen Norris

One of my dearest friends evacuated for the hurricane and was fortunate to return home to a house that had electricity.  Friends of hers did not have power, so she invited them to stay with her for several days – even though they have a dog and even though my friend dislikes dogs.  I have no doubt that there are many hurricane hospitality stories, but to those who benefitted from someone else’s hospitality, the kindness is priceless.

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