Wonderful post Bethany! I love the image of the spindle warrior- combines the hearth and the hero:) Several of my friends are married to pastors and are continuously trying to balance the open door policy with sanity and sanctity of family. The balance must be struck, as children need private time and comfort with their family, while also learning that hospitality requires compromise. One encouraging read I would recommend is 'Building the Benedict Option' by Leah Libresco https://ignatius.com/building-the-benedict-option-bbop/.
Thank you Ruth! I look forward to reading the article you linked. In the meantime, an anecdote about hospitality within ministry families: both my parents were full-time ministers to college students, and so we often had late-night visitors coming for over for company or consolation. Once a distraught young woman and her boyfriend arrived in the wee hours of the morning needing counsel. My mother made tea, but in her sleepiness she accidentally put salt instead of sugar in the poor guests’ tea! It wasn’t intentional, but it probably did help create a boundary about showing up after midnight!
Love this! I always enjoy seeing the old spelling of “house” as “hus” - a reminder that, etymologically speaking, a “husband” means exactly the same thing as a “housewife”!
Beautiful imagery. I really appreciate your sense of humor ties to ancient studies & texts. Thank you. “Give yourself praise and thanksgiving for all you do.” Amen.
Wonderful post Bethany! I love the image of the spindle warrior- combines the hearth and the hero:) Several of my friends are married to pastors and are continuously trying to balance the open door policy with sanity and sanctity of family. The balance must be struck, as children need private time and comfort with their family, while also learning that hospitality requires compromise. One encouraging read I would recommend is 'Building the Benedict Option' by Leah Libresco https://ignatius.com/building-the-benedict-option-bbop/.
Thank you Ruth! I look forward to reading the article you linked. In the meantime, an anecdote about hospitality within ministry families: both my parents were full-time ministers to college students, and so we often had late-night visitors coming for over for company or consolation. Once a distraught young woman and her boyfriend arrived in the wee hours of the morning needing counsel. My mother made tea, but in her sleepiness she accidentally put salt instead of sugar in the poor guests’ tea! It wasn’t intentional, but it probably did help create a boundary about showing up after midnight!
Haha - that's funny - Boundaries without words:)
The link I sent is to a book, but she also has written some articles here https://leahlibresco.com/
Yes, and Leah Libresco's substack Other Feminisms always make for wonderful topics of conversation!
This calls to mind Black Agnes and the Siege of Dunbar in 1338:
"Of Scotland's king I haud my hus,
I pay him meat and fee,
And I will keep my guid auld hus,
While my hus will keep me."
Love this! I always enjoy seeing the old spelling of “house” as “hus” - a reminder that, etymologically speaking, a “husband” means exactly the same thing as a “housewife”!
Beautiful imagery. I really appreciate your sense of humor ties to ancient studies & texts. Thank you. “Give yourself praise and thanksgiving for all you do.” Amen.
Thank you, Mary Lou!