Hospitality

The Auberge MacDonald Guest Inn in Iroquois Falls, ON, displays these thoughts prominently on their wall.

To Our Guests

In ancient times there was a prayer for ‘The Stranger within Our Gates.”

Because this hotel is a human institution to serve people, and not solely a for profit organization, we strive to ensure you will experience peace and rest while you are here.

May this room and this hotel be your “second” home. May those you love be near you in thoughts and dreams. Even though we may not get to know you, we hope that you will be as comfortable and happy as if you were in your own house.

May the business that brought you our way prosper. May every call you make and every message you receive add to your joy. When you leave, may your journey be safe.

We are all travelers. From “birth till death” we travel between the eternities. May these days be pleasant for you, profitable for society, helpful for those you meet, and a joy to those who know and love you best.

Having stayed there, I can tell you that is exactly what they did. Now wouldn’t it be grand if we could add a version of this to our front hall wall? It might go something like this.

Dear Friends

We pray you experience peace and rest while you are here. We hope that you will be as comfortable and happy as if you were in your own house. May you experience the presence of Jesus here and when you leave, may your journey be safe.

After all, there is Biblical precedent for entertaining.

Romans 12:13-Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality (ESV).

Hebrews 13:2-Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware (ESV).

1 Peter 4:9- Show hospitality to one another without grumbling (ESV).

Prayer: Lord, when our house isn’t the tidy, expensive or fancy version we’d like to present to the world, help us remember that isn’t what you are aiming for at all. In Christ’s name. Amen.