RELATIONSHIPS 54 DECEMBER 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Like many of you, the Christmas season always turns my heart toward the rhythms of gathering — friends arriving at the door, the warmth of a shared meal and the sacredness that seems to settle over a table in December. Advent reminds us that hospitality is more than hosting; it is the holy work of making room. It slows us down long enough to prepare space in our hearts and our homes, not just for Christ, but for the people He lovingly places in our path. True hospitality is not defined by what we set on the table, but by the care we place around the people seated at it. Why hospitality matters The Christmas story gives us one of Scripture’s most compelling images of why hospitality matters. Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem weary and vulnerable, yet everywhere they turned, they were met with the same painful reality: no room. No space set aside. No welcome offered. And so the Savior of the world entered this earth in a place no one would have chosen, simply because space had not been prepared for Him. That moment still speaks gently to us today: Are we making room for the people God sends our way? Are our hearts open? Are our lives interruptible? Are our homes places where others can find rest? Amy Hannon writes in Gather & Give that real hospitality begins with the heart, not the house. Perfection does not prepare people to encounter Christ — presence does. When we make room for others emotionally, spiritually, and practically, we create space for God to move in ways we may never fully see. And often, it is the small, nearly unnoticed moments that carry the greatest weight. People may forget your menu or your décor, but they will never forget how you made them feel — seen, heard, valued, and welcomed. Unlike Bethlehem that night, we can be the ones who open the door. We can offer warmth. We can offer presence. We can offer welcome. Every invitation, every simple meal and every seat pulled out becomes a quiet echo of the manger — an ordinary moment where God meets people in extraordinary ways. Hospitality is not a performance; it is a ministry. And when done with intention, it whispers the very message every human heart longs to hear: “I see you. You matter. You belong here.” What did Jesus do? He gathered with those He loved. He celebrated and shared a meal at a wedding. Before the cross, He spoke His final words around a table during the Last Supper. Jesus continually used the table as the place where truth was spoken, hearts were comforted and relationships were strengthened. The table has always been a sacred space. A living nativity This season, as you gather and give, let your home tell the story of Emmanuel — God with us. Not through perfection, but through presence. Not through performance, but through genuine welcome. Let your table reflect the gracious, warm, open heart of Christ. Let the atmosphere you create become a living nativity — where weary souls find room, burdens grow lighter and love feels tangible. At Relate Well Live Well, we believe deeply in the power of gathering. It strengthens marriages, nurtures families and builds connection in a culture that desperately needs it. That’s why we are launching Gather & Give — an initiative devoted to reclaiming hospitality as a spiritual practice that shapes homes, hearts and communities. Our hope is simple: that you would do what Jesus did. Make room. Share the table. Welcome with intention. And experience the beauty that unfolds when we gather well. Put Into Practice: Four simple says to make others feel welcomed 1. Look them in the eyes Your full attention communicates value and dignity. 2. Put your phone away Presence is the greatest gift you can offer. 3. Say their name with warmth It affirms their worth and creates connection. 4. Add a thoughtful touch A favorite drink or cozy seat quietly says, “I prepared for you.” Relate Well Live Well (formerly Live the Life South Florida) exists to strengthen marriages and families through skills-based relationship education beginning in middle school through senior adults. We provide workshops for marriage enrichment and HOPE Weekends for marriages needing a deeper work. RWLW.org The Story We Forget to See - Lisa May - Executive Director, Relate Well Live Well
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