Simple Hospitality

By Jane Jarrell

     When I think of hospitality, I tend to think of being made welcome, perhaps being invited into a person's home and made to feel that I am wanted there. To others hospitality may be a sign of perfectionism. Perfection in their clean home, perfect decorations, and wonderfully prepared and perfectly served meals.

     Jane Jarrell expresses her idea of hospitality as quite a bit like my idea of hospitality. A perfectly clean home and gourmet meals on fine china are not as important as loving your guests and others with all God has given you.

    Ms. Jarrell is no stranger to the art of being a perfect hostess. She coordinated the Southern Living magazines cooking shows and worked with Neiman Marcus in their restaurant marketing program. And yet Jane sets all of this on the back burner and says that true kindness and a willingness to serve is what simple hospitality is all about.

    The manner in which Ms. Jarrell's book is set up allows the reader to read the book from cover to cover or to simply browse the chapters and sections that need working on in their life.

     In part one, she advises the reader to keep it simple. In order to accomplish this, she provides the reader with several articles and worksheets to help them decide just how to begin to simplify their life.

     As the book progresses, the reader learns cleaning and organizational tips. Later in the book she shows us how to take these newfound skills out into the community, allowing the reader to help neighbors and give more of themselves.

     Sprinkled throughout the book are wonderful recipes and lots of hints and tips that could prove invaluable.

      Jane Jarrell's book, Simple Hospitality has managed to present in simple words a way to make your life more pleasant and allow you to serve both yourself and your family as well as others in a simple, kind, loving and hospitable way.