Samantha’s favorite person to visit in Palangkaraya, Indonesia, lived in a house across the street and two houses down. Most of the houses on our street were made from concrete and ceramic tile, which helped keep the people in them cooler. But this house was made completely of wood. There were gaps in the floor large enough for Samantha’s two-year-old ear-old feet to fit in. There was one light bulb. There was no ceiling fan. But what there was made it Samantha’s favorite outing. There was a sweet girl Samantha’s age who had a very gracious and never-hurried mom. And behind their house was a secret garden, where they grew flowers to sell in the market, populated by their flock of chickens on pest patrol duty. They were organic before organic was cool, because a flock of chickens was cheaper than chemicals. Samantha loved this unhurried floral wonderland and playing with sticks in the dirt in the midst of it with her friend. This sweet mom always shared food with us when we came, food she couldn’t really spare, no matter what time of day we stopped by. I asked my helper how we could do something without embarrassing this generous woman, and we followed her suggestion of bringing flavored powdered milk drinks with us to add to the feasts. I learned true hospitality from this sweet neighbor. She was never embarrassed by her surroundings, and always had time and treats to share. Even my two-year-old could sense we were welcome there.
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬-9 ‭NIV‬‬ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ‭‭Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬