Temporary Friends

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

“How exciting! We’re on the way to Disney World too.” Beth plopped down on a seat next to another girl at the airport. She loved making temporary friends—and the airport was a great place for it.

The girl smiled shyly, turning so Beth could better see her Disney-themed T-shirt.

“What rides do you want to go on?” Beth asked.

“Well, Space Mountain—” the girl began.

Just then, Beth’s phone pinged. Glancing down at the text, she realized she hadn’t told her mom that she had walked across the hallway in the airport terminal. “Whoops, just a second,” Beth said as she sent her mom a quick text and waved when her mom looked in her direction. “Okay, what were you saying about Space Mountain? I’ve never been on that ride and have heard it’s scary, is that true?”

We don’t need to be an adult with a home of our own to extend a warm welcome to others. Showing hospitality can sound very formal and serious, don’t you think? But it simply means being kind to someone you don’t know very well without expecting anything in return. It could be sitting next to the new kid at the lunch table so she or he doesn’t eat alone. It could mean inviting others to join a game of sand volleyball at the beach or a game of pickup soccer at the park. There are so many ways to show small kindnesses to others at school, at church, or at other activities, ways that don’t cost anything and are not hard to do.

Why does Jesus ask us to practice hospitality? When we are kind and friendly to others we don’t know well without expecting anything in return, we show our love for Jesus and show Jesus’ love for others. Maybe you aren’t comfortable talking about Jesus in your school or to strangers. But being kind without receiving anything in return is a powerful way to show Jesus to those around you without saying a word.

Things to Think About

• Think of a time someone you didn’t know was kind to you. What did he or she do? How did that make you feel?
• Think of a time you showed kindness to someone you didn’t know. What did you do? How did it change your day?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Make a plan to invite someone you don’t know well to sit at your lunch table or to join an activity with you.