The pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality.

Columbus discovered it in Guadeloupe when, in a gesture of good will, the natives offered it to him. He brought it back to Europe.

Spanish explorers continued to use the pineapple as a gift, leaving it at the entrance to Native American villages to begin friendships.

In colonial neighborhoods, sailors returning home displayed the pineapple out front to let friends and neighbors know they were welcome.

For hundreds of years, the pineapple has been feeding relationships. That sweet symbol of welcome is like God’s presence in us.

The fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It’s a cup of tea, a plate of muffins, and a soft chair. What we do to welcome others into our homes is the fruit of God’s Spirit all in one experience. It enables us to be hospitable hosts anywhere we go, creating an atmosphere around us where others want to be. It wins strangers’ affections and lures friends and family to come closer.

After all, God’s hospitality to us is what drew us to Him. Working through us, He empowers us to bear witness to His majesty and draw others in. Like a pineapple, God’s Spirit in us welcomes people into His Kingdom.