For at least the past decade I have come to truly understand that despite big, beautiful, and abundant nouns, adjectives, and verbs in the English language, some languages have a better word that sums it all up in one word.
The word "gezellig" is from Dutch culture.
Gezellig (heh-sell-ick) adj: a feeling of warmth, comfort , and relaxation; a friendly ambiance and cozy atmosphere, pleasant togetherness.
It describes a feeling, a place, or an experience. The "Cheers" theme song comes to mind. Having your name called out in welcome when you arrive is a gezellig greeting, but so much more. It appears to be more social than hygge, and like hygge it is hard to put into words.
We can create a gezellig welcome in our homes and beyond its walls.
When I think of the times Jesus was welcomed into the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, I think it was a gezellig experience. It seems as if they were generous in every way, so he could rest and restore.
My Mama would have loved this word. Pleasant togetherness is a lovely way to be. Soup and chili feed a crowd. So does meatloaf and spaghetti. She made them all well before she was ill. It seems like part of creating a gezellig feeling, there must be a desire to serve or to make people feel welcome.
Farmers gather at the grain elevators, gas stations, or local diners when they head into town for coffee and conversation. It is the country version of "Cheers", I suppose.
Jesus spoke in parables about the importance of loving our neighbors and welcoming strangers. "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home." -Matthew 25:35
Today, I am grateful for a new word... gezellig.
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