Embracing Imperfection When Entertaining
Welcome to the new and improved Piggy Bank Parties blog—your go-to resource for making CENTS (sense) of entertaining. After a much longer hiatus from blogging than expected, I’m refocusing on our original purpose of sharing uncomplicated, accessible and affordable entertaining ideas.
My desire to return to blogging was refueled after reading this devotion by Liz Curtis Higgs. Her insightful words reignited my passion for simplifying events after getting lost in the details:
“We don’t all need to be dazzling hostesses or confident cooks, just women who throw open the doors to our hearts and make Him [God] welcome.”
You may be asking yourself, “How does that relate to entertaining?”
Here’s my takeaway—Liz was referring to the Bible story in Luke 10 about two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha was upset with Mary for focusing on just one guest, Jesus, instead of helping with all of the guests in their home that day. Martha thought taking care of all the little details was more important than taking care of one person’s needs. However, Jesus needed Mary’s love and care at that moment, not Martha’s perfect hosting skills.
Inspired by Liz’s life-changing words, I hope you’ll pause, ponder and truly believe what I’m about to say. Ready? You don’t need to be a dazzling host or a confident cook to entertain. Be a person who throws open the door to your home and welcomes others in!
Read those last two sentences again.
You don’t need to be a dazzling host or a confident cook to entertain. Be a person who throws open the door to your home and welcomes others in!
Entertaining doesn’t require a color scheme, themed favors or perfection—just a welcoming spirit. That concept reminded me of my dear friend, Cindy.
Cindy and her family were regulars at all of our parties. One night, her family joined us for a casual meal around our perfectly set dinner table in our clean, organized and perfectly cozy home. During dinner, Cindy and her husband apologized for the food that landed on the fresh tablecloth and for the stains their toddlers left on the cloth napkins. I told them not to worry about it…and I truly meant it.
I don’t remember the exact words I said, but the gist of it was—we are all messy.
I want everyone to feel special so I use cloth napkins and tablecloths for almost every single meal I serve in our home. Cloth napkins and tablecloths can be washed. If the stains don’t come out, it’s not the end of the world. The stains are a reminder of the times we’ve shared a great meal with people we love.
After hearing that, Cindy shared that she had been a bit intimidated by my hostess skills. I had to hold back the tears. I shared that I was given the gift of hospitality. I get excited about cloth napkins and tablecloths, cute favor boxes, soda pop in vintage bottles and miniature grilled cheese sandwiches.
It’s my talent. It’s my jam. It’s the way I love people, but I never want anyone to feel like they are less than enough. I told her she could order pizza, serve it on paper plates and it would be the BEST MEAL EVER because she’d be opening her home to us.
A few weeks later Cindy invited us to dinner. We ate pizza on mismatched plates in a small bungalow filled with more love and laughter than you can imagine! We shared many meals and celebrations around that table over the years, but that first meal will always be one of the most extraordinary dinners I have ever attended.
Cindy’s willingness to open her home to us wasn’t dependent on her dazzling hostess or cooking skills. She welcomed us into her home with love which is the greatest gift you can give.
Inspired by Cindy’s step of faith, I’m embracing imperfection and taking action instead of always dreaming about the perfect blog. Over the next few months you will see subtle changes here and there as we update and refine the blog to better serve you.
I hope you’ll join me on this adventure! Be sure to sign up for our new newsletter which will include exclusive free downloads, discount codes and sneak peeks of all the shenanigans happening at Piggy Bank Parties HQ.
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I couldn’t love this post any more! This is exactly how I feel, I love having people I our home, hearing the laughter and making memories and I love the mess…it means that we are living, surrounded by people we love! Glad to see you back at it.
Your kind words means so much, Mariah! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Love you!