Preparing for Company

I don't care who you are, if you expect guests for any length of time, life goes into Frenzy Mode.

When the pastor steps up to the pulpit on Sunday, he often says (from Psalms 19:14) "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O God, my strength and my redeemer."
With apologies to the scripture writers, I would like to suggest that the master of a house expecting company might say, "May the words of my mouth and the condition of my house be acceptable in Thy sight, O Guest, my perceived judge and jury."

It isn't true, of course.  Most people who come to visit, or even to stay for a day or two, aren't looking for your flaws.  YOU, however, are.

Case in point:  a day or two before my grandmother's funeral, the family had gathered at the farmhouse.  Arrangements had already been made.  We were being social.  The house was filled with immediate family, and the beer was flowing.  Then, suddenly, the local preacher's car came up the driveway, causing my mother to exclaim, "Quick!  Get rid of the beer!"  We scrambled to erase the evidence of perdition, even though the house already reeked of my Dad's cigars and everyone else's cigarettes...and if he had come close enough to smell breath, the cat would have been out of the bag.  Who were we kidding?

Case in point:  every one of your precious possessions look great in the light of your home, but get ready to move them--out in the bright sunshine--they will be "shabby chic".  I will never forget how, when my daughter moved into my house with my two grandchildren, we endeavored to move the stuff in her storage unit into my house.  Particularly welcome was her kitchen table and chairs.  Perfect!  But...ugh...covered with sticky fingerprints and dried milk splashed everywhere--not at all visible until put under the scrutiny of the move.  We cleaned and cleaned...  She has moved on to Washington State.  I still have the set, and it doesn't look great, even now.  It's getting old...

Getting old?  So am I!  I can't keep things as clean as I once did.  I try, but I have hired a gal to help me get things done.  Even when I think things are as clean as they can be, they aren't.  There is a mirror over my sink that looks like a window.  I cleaned the water spots off of that mirror a couple of weeks ago, but my now-critical-eye-because-company-is-coming shows every single streak.  Did I say "company"?  Yes...I am expecting my sister and her fella for next weekend.  There are hard-water accumulations around the kitchen sink faucet.  Nothing shines.  That means clean sheets, clean toilets, comfortable feelings...and nothing up to my expectations.  Normally, it wouldn't bother me.  My sister is "family".  She gets what she gets and always leaves me better off than when she came..but...but...now she is bringing the new love of her life who has never seen my house-on-a-slab before.  I have no "dog" to put on, but best foot forward, right?  I hope he isn't too shy to say, "Where are the towels?" when he gets ready to shower.  He who hesitates is lost, right?

Thankfully, old age brings more acceptance than younger years do.  If I yielded to my fears of being judged for how things are here, I would be lonely, indeed.  I'll make things as clean and hospitable as I can.  Somehow, I think I'll get through.  I'd rather have them here and be embarrassed than not here and alone.

Amen!