What Does Your Welcome Mat Say?

by Joyce Sykes
Published May 15, 2007

Everyone longs to find a place of refuge, a place that they feel safe and secure. It is in this place that they can share their thoughts and ideas, even fears and insecurities. In all honesty, we should have two places that this occurs; first in our homes and secondly within our church family. Sadly and unfortunately this is not the case for multitudes in today’s world.

This place is where we can pull back the covers of our heart and honestly share our dreams and hopes. A spot where dreams of being used by the Lord in ministry can be spoken of without fear of ridicule. Or perhaps, the hope that some gift He has placed in us can be used to touch another’s heart. In this place of refuge, we have the knowledge that we are loved and we can share these desires without fear of being ridiculed.

It’s in this place of safety and acceptance that the first time singer whose voice trembles with fear, maybe even hitting a wrong note, yet as they look out into their audience they see faces smiling with encouragement urging to complete this scary task. Maybe, the young man filled with a longing to be a pastor, sharing the Gospel with the lost, stands to deliver his first sermon sees interest portrayed on the face of the listeners.

Maybe our refuge needs to be a place that we can pour out our struggles. If we are battling with issues of our flesh, do we have someone who is willing to stand in prayer with us? This safe place brings no fear of the news being broadcast near and far. What we share there stays there. We aren’t going to receive the news repeated and twisted in a few days by someone who only wants juicy tidbits to share with the next person.

Too often, the welcome mat laying outside the doorway of many homes and even churches reads, “Enter at Your Own Risk”. As the walking wounded exposes their beating and bleeding hearts, they are attacked for their lack. It’s almost like a shark feeding frenzy. Their hearts are further dissected revealing the wounds and scars of their past. Rather than applying healing balm and binding up the injuries, their wounds are further exposed. It’s as if some take great delight to inflict further damage on an already bleeding laceration. The results, the walking wounded withdraw and isolate themselves even more, unable to prevent their hurt from growing larger as more deadly infection spreads.

Other doorways have removed their welcome mats completely. As visitors and the walking wounded come, they are greeted by glancing looks rather than welcoming arms. A cold shawl quickly settles on the shoulders of the visitor, leaving an impression of ‘Unwelcome, you are not needed or wanted here!’ The attitude seems to suggest that their ‘gospel’ has room for only us four and no more.

How this must sadden the Father’s heart. As He watches His hurting children being inflicted with more pain, His heart must grieve. I imagine even anger fills His heart even as it does in the natural for parents who watch their child or children being bullied, torments and at times even physical abuse by those who think they are better and more important than the recipient of their jabs.

Maybe it’s time for us to take a good look at what our welcome mat says. Does it beckon the hurting to come and find a place of rest and healing? As a person stands outside our door, do they feel the reality of love and acceptance of the individuals inside? May it be so. May we reach out and beckon those who are longing to find a place to belong. I pray today, that each of us will have an opportunity to share His love and acceptance with those who are truly in need.

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