The Heart of Hospitality

Hello. I am Claire Bennett. I am eleven, and I teach Junior Academy. Mrs. Hale is our headmistress, but this hour is mine. This is week 21. Today's lesson is The Heart of Hospitality. Sit with me and we will learn it together. Hospitality is not a magazine. It is the decision that another person may be at ease under your roof. Peter says to use hospitality without grudging. That means we prepare — a clear chair, a clean bathroom, something to drink — and we also watch our hearts. A girl who slaves until she is angry has not hosted; she has performed. We learn to greet at the door, take a coat, offer a seat, and start a conversation that is not an interview and not a monologue. The holy part is the welcome. The tablecloth is optional.