Entertaining in the ordinary

The dinner party revival is a refreshing return of something many feared was gone for good from American life. Bringing people together to break bread, gathering around the table for a special meal or occasion, and fostering community by opening your home is not only special, but an important aspect of human life.

While hosting intentionally planned gatherings is a fun and wonderful way to nurture family, friends, and communities, too many of us think we must wait for the perfect moment to host. We think the house has to be clean, our schedules have to calm down, and everything must be in precise order before we can invite people into our homes. That simply is not the case.

Seizing simple moments

We get caught up in all the little details, which deter us from extending invitations; a sort of paralysis. We mustn’t be intimidated by dreamy dinner-party culture or hold off on opening ourselves up by welcoming those we love into our home. Hosting is about welcoming with a sense of love that makes others feel seen, comforted, and at home. It’s a self-gift that fills others’ cups, and the beauty is that the more we give, the more fulfillment we receive as well.

Dinner parties do have their place, but there’s also something to be said about entertaining in the ordinary — taking advantage of the simple moments. These simple moments can include tea on the porch, cards or board games, or even something as uncomplicated as buttered noodles. 

I found myself in this sort of hosting hesitancy a couple of years ago. Being more of a planner and an admirer of entertaining, I wanted to host bigger gatherings and fell into the habit of waiting for the ideal moment to invite my friends over. I have since learned that hosting a few friends for a simple dinner or an intimate tea provides equally fond memories as large, intricately planned gatherings. 

Hosting hacks

With some small preparations, you can confidently extend hospitality to those around you without adding stress. Keep baskets or storage bins in common areas for quick decluttering, and do a fast wipe-down of the bathroom and kitchen before guests arrive. Have a go-to pitcher ready to serve water, sweet tea, or another easy drink, and don’t hesitate to order pizza or another favorite takeout meal when that feels easiest.

It also helps to keep your hosting essentials in one cabinet or shelf, stock easy snacks like chips and salsa or cheese and crackers, and invite guests to bring something to share. With a few tricks up your sleeve and a relaxed spirit, you can create a warm, comfortable gathering that feels inviting, effortless, thoughtful, and easy to enjoy.

Saintly virtues

By appreciating everyday moments, we embrace virtues like humility, generosity, courage, detachment, and attentiveness — just as Mary and the saints did. Welcoming others into our homes and embracing the opportunities that come with hospitality can teach us humility when our home isn’t perfect; generosity through sharing without expecting anything in return; courage by risking rejection when extending invitations; detachment by releasing a need to control every detail; and attentiveness by noticing the small, quiet details — whether someone is new, lonely, or shy — and making them feel seen through God’s loving eyes. 

Christ accepted these invitations many times and invited people from all walks of life. Jesus did not wait for ideal circumstances before sharing a meal. He ate in ordinary homes, at crowded tables, and in the company of people whom others overlooked. He allowed meals to become places of encounter, conversion, friendship, and mercy.

Our own tables can become places of encounter, too.

Opening hearts and homes

Beyond the table is our hearts — and the beauty truly occurs when our hearts are fully open, vulnerable, and excited to receive others. 

It is never about the decor or the table setting; it truly is about presence and the gift of self. And it all starts with an invitation. The invitation into the ordinary. Hospitality is practiced in the small moments, and it's within these small moments that doors can open our hearts to a treasure trove of graces of humility, charity, and receptivity.