A Warm Welcome

A Warm Welcome

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

1 Peter 4:9

Russian history reports that when Czar Nicholas ruled Russia, he decided to test his people’s hospitality to strangers. Against the advice of his family and administrators, he dressed himself in beggars’ clothing and went out to the countryside. For an entire day he went from door to door, asking for food and shelter. He was refused by most and cursed at by many as they slammed their doors in his face.

Finally, as it began to get cold and dark, he knocked on the door of the humble cottage of an old peasant and his wife. The peasant was extremely poor, and his wife was ill. Still, he invited the beggar inside.

“We have little,” said the peasant, “but what we have, we’ll share with you.”

The peasant gave the czar a small amount of warm, wholesome food. Then he prepared a sleeping mat for him on the floor near the fire, with apologies that the mat was the best he could do. They all settled down at last for the night.

When the peasant arose the next morning to prepare the remainder of the food for his family and the beggar, he found that the beggar had disappeared.

Late the next afternoon, the peasant and his wife sat on the porch of their small cottage and saw a group of soldiers coming toward them. Behind the soldiers was a beautiful carriage.

“Oh, Wife!” exclaimed the peasant. “What have I done? They must be coming to arrest me!”

The royal carriage stopped. Czar Nicholas stepped down, smiling graciously, and greeted them warmly.

Suddenly the peasants’ fears turned to joy as the czar told them it had been he whom they had welcomed as a beggar. Then he showered them with rich rewards—so many, in fact, that they never had to work or worry again.

King of heaven, I welcome you into my home and into my heart. May you always feel welcome here. Amen.