By Julie Ball

One Sunday afternoon, as I walked into my church for a Dawnings team gathering, I noticed a rather large group of women and girls gathered in one of the church’s rooms. I saw one familiar young face among them, so I figured it was a birthday party or a Zumba moms get-together. I didn’t know of any regular meeting happening in that room on Sunday mornings.

A little later, our Dawnings team was walking through the church’s halls, taking a “tour” of the people and groups who use our building. When we walked into this room, the women and girls were dispersing. One of the ladies, as if on cue, walked right over and told us how happy she was that their Girl Scout troop could meet in our church. I don’t believe I was the only person who was thinking, “I didn’t know we had a Girl Scout troop here!”

She went on to share the difficulties this troop had had in finding a meeting place. At least one church had wanted to charge them rent, and another had wanted them to write an essay detailing why their organization was good and worthy (Hello? They’re the Girl Scouts!). Our church, she said, had welcomed them right in.

I think I can safely say that every member of our Dawnings leadership team was impacted by that experience. Over the next several weeks, as we asked ourselves questions like, “What is hospitality?” and “What opportunities might we be missing with the people who are already here?” we thought of the Girl Scout troop leader and her story.  And as Christmas draws very close, I am thinking of her again.

“Making room” is no small thing; just ask Mary and Joseph. Like these Girl Scouts, they asked around town at more than one place before finally meeting the innkeeper who did what he could to make them room. But is that what hospitality is all about?

I don’t think so. When we “let every heart prepare him room,” it is not just so Jesus can take up space there. Jesus asks us to do more than make room for him. Jesus wants us to know him and to love him. And isn’t that what everybody wants? To be known and loved?

Are we making room? What more can we do to know and love others?

This Christmas, as we remember Mary and Joseph who needed room, as we welcome Jesus into the rooms of our hearts anew, let us also remember and welcome those who take up room or who are seeking room in our church buildings, in our homes, in our lives. Lord Jesus, we pray.