#FridayFive :: Five Dinner Guests

I'm linking up once more with Mrs. Disciple for her #FridayFive! This week, we're discussing Five Dinner Guests.

This is RIGHT up my alley. We love hosting. I'm taking a slightly different spin on the Dinner Guests topic today...

Let's get the fire going and sit down to a warm meal and a fantastic drink. We'll have good conversation and food and dessert, of course! If the weather is right, we will fire up the grill. We don't have our cloth napkins ironed--or I may not even know where they are right now, but we're here to listen to your story and we've got paper towels. We don't have fancy china, but we have laughter and wine.

Five Things I Want Dinner Guests To Know

1. We love you.
We do. I'm sure I don't say it enough, but we love you. We love your friendship. We love your community. We love the way you love us.

2. We see you.
We want you to feel known. We see what you're dealing with. We see what life has thrown your way. We see you the way God sees you.

3. We are here for you.
Whatever you are going through, let's share a meal. A meal can be healing. A meal can be restorative. A meal can be just what you need. Just what we need. We are here for you, with whatever life brings your way.

4. We hear you.
I say this because I find myself longing to not just be listened to, but to be HEARD. There's a difference. I want you to know that you are heard. I'm not going to sit there thinking about what I will say next to contribute. I am focusing on you. Share your story. Your life. Your dealings. It's safe here.

5. We welcome you back, whenever you'd like.
Our door is open. But, please know that sometimes our house is messy and so are our lives. We love it and wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes you walk in on the crazy. It just happens. We welcome you into our lives when we invite you over for dinner. We let you into the 'not-so-perfect' parts and our door is open for you. If you want the garage code, you just have to ask. We're vulnerable because that's what community is and does for one another. We open our door, our hearts, and our pantry to you! Enjoy.

I love having people over and I want to welcome you back.

Tell me about your Five Dinner Guests!