By Pam Tinsley

After reading Matthew 10:40-42 I’ve been reflecting on what it means to give and to receive hospitality: How I might offer a “cup of cold water” – hospitality – to someone in need – or how I might receive it.

In the midst of my reflections, I had two telephone interactions with the IRS. Yes, the IRS whom so many of us fear!

The first call was regarding a non-profit whose contact and address information I’d been trying to update by mail for close to two years. When a letter from the IRS was miraculously forwarded to me, I filled out paperwork for the changes. And then I still waited. Finally, with a bit of trepidation, I picked up the phone and called the person whose name was on the letter. Within 20 minutes the changes were implemented by an incredibly helpful and gracious IRS representative. He ended our conversation with, “May God bless you.”

My second call was related to our personal taxes. I decided to save on our accountant’s fee and – perhaps bolstered by that recent experience – made the call to the IRS. Lo-and-behold, I ended up with another super helpful and gracious IRS rep who thanked me each time she had to put me on hold. She sorted everything out quite efficiently, and she thanked me yet again for my patience!

What they probably saw as routine actions made a deep impression on me. They made me feel as though I’d received a cup of cold, refreshing water – just like the cup of cold water Jesus refers to in Matthew 10:42.

That’s when I realized that most of my own acts of welcome are simply part of my daily or weekly routine.

As 21^st-century disciples, we bear Jesus’ presence to whomever we encounter, whether it’s at home, at work, at the grocery store, or even on a service call. And we do this through simple, everyday acts of kindness. Because each simple, everyday act of kindness, of grace, embodies God’s love for our neighbor. Each simple, everyday act of kindness, of grace, bears witness to the extravagant welcome of God’s kingdom. Each simple, everyday act of kindness can grow and spread and lead to something greater – to more – when we offer it in Jesus’ name. Each simple, routine act of kindness can begin to transform our broken world into a world more attuned to God’s will for us and more aligned with God’s Kingdom values.