The importance of Welcome
For someone who's new or lost or feeling alone, something very simple can change everything.
One week I visited a city that was strange to me. The people were a little different, the shops were different, and I wondered how safe each area was.
Having time to spare, I wandered. I felt like a grain of sand in this landscape, and wondered if anyone would notice if I was there, or not. Would anyone care if I was lost, or hungry, or feeling alone? Anxiety threatened to envelop me.
I arrived at a meeting by a local charity. They made a point of telling me I was WELCOME. I was safe, cared for and fed.
Suddenly, I understood the importance of òWELCOME'.
úI was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.ù Matthew 25:31-40
Make a point of ensuring the isolated feel welcome. It's more important than we might think.
Christa Macnaughton, Partnership Manager