I have left the above issue of Victoria Classics with several of the ladies who allowed us to be their guests. While reading the articles I thought how nice it would be to have your children read them aloud to learn how to prepare for hospitality at home. They are easy to understand and elegantly written,
The photographs are inspiring. One article shows how to find things around your home, even if mis-matched, to use for a tea time ceremony. One particular sentence stands out:
"Never underestimate the power of a well-set table."
Everywhere I ate, the table was set.
If you are interested in teaching your girls how to be ladies, consider using this issue as one of their textbooks and see what can be gleaned from it. One thing I have done when there was a magazine I used often in homeschooling, was take it apart and insert the pages in plastic sleeves designed for a three-ring binder. That makes it easy to add other pages of notes and comments inbetween or within articles. It is a good idea to incorporate Biblical examples of hospitality and Bible teaching on the subject. This could make a great addition to a homemaking notebook.
As a final note, do not be too reluctant to collect a tea wardrobe of dishes and centerpieces. While it is true that the accumulation of material things is not what we are all about, these vessels are used to serve The Lord, for when you entertain strangers (those outside the family), you entertain angels unawares. Long after you have passed on to your eternal reward, others will use your things to continue the ministry of hospitality in your memory and in compliance with our Lord's admonition to show hospitality to strangers and "especially to the household of faith." Galations 6:10
6 comments:
Beautiful! My daughter is 16, and I have been having tea with her since she was small. Sometimes we have a Valentine tea and invite friends to come and share. It is fun and also teaches her hospitality.
Christina
We had the experience of extending hospitality to a single man, a friend of my husband's. He was so amazed to be served freshly-baked, warm rolls. He did not notice that our home was more 'shabby' than Shabby Chic! Rather, he seemed overwhelmed by the meal.
After he had left, I thanked my husband for inviting him and giving us all a chance to bless him.
I am currently enjoying a book by Devi Titus, called 'The Home Experience', about how to make our home a place of hospitality,love, peace and honour. She refers to Scriptural examples of how a table is a powerful place of God's presence and grace. It was wonderful to be able to put these principles into practice.
May I add that hubby was able to gently share about the Lord after the meal? He was assisted by the way I made the food stretch (!) and the children's unaffected hospitality.
I know that your post was about tea time rather than a full meal, but I wanted to add my two pennies' worth about the power of Christian hospitality.
We had the experience of extending hospitality to a single man, a friend of my husband's. He was so amazed to be served freshly-baked, warm rolls. He did not notice that our home was more 'shabby' than Shabby Chic! Rather, he seemed overwhelmed by the meal.
After he had left, I thanked my husband for inviting him and giving us all a chance to bless him.
I am currently enjoying a book by Devi Titus, called 'The Home Experience', about how to make our home a place of hospitality,love, peace and honour. She refers to Scriptural examples of how a table is a powerful place of God's presence and grace. It was wonderful to be able to put these principles into practice.
May I add that hubby was able to gently share about the Lord after the meal? He was assisted by the way I made the food stretch (!) and the children's unaffected hospitality.
I know that your post was about tea time rather than a full meal, but I wanted to add my two pennies' worth about the power of Christian hospitality.
We love setting the table at our home. Mostly the daughters. I always tell them with the table (and their outfits!) to make sure there is always "a little something to it". Which means, an extra special touch. Maybe it's just a lit candle on the table, or napkin rings, etc. Or in regards to an outfit, a hair clip, a bracelet, or even this morning, my 5 year old said her fuzzy vest was her "something to it". SO cute!
Anyways, enough about me! Just wanted to share. I think one may hesitate to "set the table" because they don't want to do it if they can't do it all the way perfect, but just use the time you have, and the resources you have to make it special. Something is SOOOO much better than nothing!!!
Thank you for your blog!
I just wanted to let fellow readers know that if you go to Victoriamag.com, click on the blog archives and scroll down to November 26, 2014 you can see some of the inside of the Special Tea Issue. I am looking for it in the stores here, but it can be purchased on their website also. Thank you for sharing this with us. It would make a great keepsake and reference manual especially for those of us who have just recently been introduced to tea.
I got my copy at eat walmart.
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