Despite the pain, I had more to be thankful for on that holiday than ever before. Helen was an angel, and our friends bombarded us with love and support.
That difficult season became a blessing in disguise. I grew relationships I wouldn’t have otherwise had. And together the project still got done!
So what is the guiding principle?
For us, it’s love—for God, for each other, for our neighbors.
Everything we do must be in service to this higher purpose. That’s why I care so much about what I do (I want it to glorify God), and that’s why I love hospitality…
These days, my work—whether it’s engaging with others (through Experiential Hospitality community calls, consulting, etc), sharing their stories, or creating beautiful places for people to enjoy—offers golden opportunities to serve, pursue excellence, and to make the faith I mentioned earlier come alive!
Serving others is at the heart of true hospitality, but it’s also a principle that applies and can be lived-out in every single occupation and area of life.
So, yes, there are times where you have to refocus and prioritize, but work, family, and faith shouldn’t constantly feel at odds. If they do, chances are you might be working on the wrong thing, or doing it the wrong way.
To sum it up:
There are seasons of sacrifice, but make sure you’re on the same page with your family, friends, community—whatever that looks like—and especially with your spouse.
Consider ways to work closer to your family and loved ones. Maybe you can’t build an office behind your house (I’m so blessed to have The Nook), but there are many ways to align work with family life. Of course, many already do with the trends the pandemic created (one of the few positive outcomes from that mess).
