Growing up, my home was always open to visiting friends and families. My mom’s love to share with anyone who ‘stopped by for a visit’ kept our front door revolving. As kids, we were sometimes embarrassed by who might be sitting at our kitchen table with a piece of fresh baked banana bread and a cup of coffee. Mom had a heart for those who others did not.

My grandmother was much the same way. She loved it when we would just ‘pop in for a visit’. She would go to her meager cupboards and pull together a quick ‘something to eat’ that became a feast because of her warmth and hospitality. Often a peanut butter sandwich was a meal that we all shared in love and fellowship.

As my time with my friend from India comes to a close, and banana bread is baking in the oven, I can only smile at how wonderful my heritage is of hospitality. To ‘break bread’ with a friend is a joy. To serve something I made and watch friends and family enjoy it, keeps my family blood flowing strong and happily. But what if?…

As I put the bread into the oven, I wondered. What if I had no front door to welcome friends through? What if I had no cupboards to go to for my baking ingredients? No oven to bake in? No table to sit at? What if I had no food to share?

A dear friend of mine and her husband, have a food outreach to the homeless. Shawn gets up early, before going to work, to gather food that has been offered to them for their program Cornerstone Community Outreach. Mary then spends the week, sorting, cleaning and carefully examining each can and package that comes across their door. Then together they go out with their trailer packed, and distribute to agencies that feed the homeless and near homeless. Mary, a woman gifted with hospitality, will always have something in the oven to serve her family and friends even amidst her work.

I pray, that in one of these distribution of food, not only are needs met, but there is a little extra for someone to share with another…scratching that itch of hospitality that is strong among some  of us, homeless or not.  There is truly something wonderful about watching others enjoy something simple given to them which, from our heart says, “Welcome friend.”

Find a food outreach to support , or better yet, take a loaf of banana bread to a ‘soup kitchen’ and share it with others. What a great way to help those agencies and ministries to open their door and say, “Welcome friend.”

If you would like to help support Shawn & Mary, just respond to this post.  I’d love to introduce you to them.  I’m sure Mary would love to serve you a piece of her banana bread.