You are welcome...

Those who know me well enough know that I usually reciprocate thank yous with "...It was a pleasure..." or "...My pleasure..."

Don't get me wrong. I don't mindlessly say it. It was truly my pleasure. Gladly. So don't mention it.

In the past few days, someone thanked me so profusely for something that I decided (after some contemplation) to include some "You are welcome"s in my vocabulary for variety's sake.... so that I wouldn't sound like an answering machine or a freaky parrot.

I never favoured  "You are welcome..." because it is vague while supposedly polite. You are welcome to what? It even sounded arrogant whenever it passed my lips! Misinterpretation and over-reaction, perhaps - but for me, it felt, at least a teeny-weeny bit, like I was implying to my thanker, "You are welcome... to thank me..." or "Your thanks are welcomed..." After all, if I had wanted to express how enthusiastic I was to do him/her that particular favour, I would have used the past simple tense: "You were welcome..." - which is pretty awkward too.

I was also a little reluctant for it to mean, "You are welcome... to ask me for more favours." ~ There, you can stone me now. 

Nah, another one of my pet peeves. 

A matter of perspective, I am sure. Please don't feel like I am trying to make you a convert.

"My pleasure" still sounds sweeter and much more elegant, no?

Anyway, someone asked me today what does it mean for me to welcome somebody into my life. I did ponder on this (am still pondering on it) and consequently, "You are welcome" has sneaked back into my vocab.

At this point, I guess to welcome somebody into my life would mean making the person feel truly appreciated, accepted (despite him/her occasionally sandpapering me), comfortable to be real in our interactions, and free to ask for prayers/favours when needed. Also, it would mean willingness, on my part, to be vulnerable... to love as well as to die. Definitely a step out of my comfort zone at times - especially when my heart is broken - and absolutely impossible without God's grace, mercy and help. God and His work in me must be welcomed and yielded to... before I can welcome anybody else.

I would like "You are welcome..." to mean: "You are welcome into my life. Go ahead and ask for more favours if you need... I will try my best to be of some help to you."

God, please help me to be a more hospitable person.