When I think of the table many things come to mind: the idea of laughing (sometimes until you cry), occasional times of silence, times of flowing conversation, and times that we eat too. When I look back on memorable times in my life, they often involve sitting around the table. My heart is filled with the joy and the generosity of our God. We invite because our God invites us. My mind goes back to our family dinners over the years when our kids were young, hosting holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and all those other times we invited people into our home because it is fun to invite.
In her book, Food and Wine, author Shauna Niequist says “I love the sounds and smells and textures of life at the table, hands passing bowls and forks clinking against plates and bread being torn and the rhythm and energy of feeding and being fed. I love to talk about food and entertaining.” This quote immediately brought back a memory of a recent gathering in our home, and even now I can almost hear the conversations, the dishes, and the happy chaos around the dinner table.
This past week I hosted a girls night where I invited a personal organizer to share her tips on decluttering. I invited several ladies and 15 ladies were able to come. I was like a kid at Christmas all day because I love to open our home. I love to lavishly shower my guests with love, yummy food, drinks, and desserts. But most of all I like to invite because I love these ladies and when we gather, it is a way that I can show Jesus and His love for them. It is a foretaste of what is to come someday, but also what we can enjoy with God and His children right now.
These little gatherings are glimpses, little windows onto our generous God. The noise level increased as women were engaged in conversations. The eating and forging of fellowship made my heart soar because we were enjoying the gift of gathering at the table. After Erin shared her thoughts on decluttering many ladies stayed visiting more, some until midnight. For me, that is a party. When everyone left, I immediately thanked God for the gifts he gave me as I opened the door and my heart, food, and gifts to Him and others.
We are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in less than a month. I am already thinking about who we can invite, what we will share, and how we will make it special. I use the same menu every year to keep it simple, and I let others help and make what they want to add to the meal. I pray over that gathering as it approaches.
A few years back when our son, Zach, started his new job he invited a colleague over to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. His friend was from another country and was new to our home state of Ohio. He was excited to spend Thanksgiving with us. We shared our traditions of how we celebrate Thanksgiving. Every year we fry a turkey outside, and we cook one inside in the oven. Traditions offer stability and pass on our values as they provide a ritual or routine to anticipate. As, a family, we like to share a wonderful meal, play Thanksgiving-related games, and reveal what we are thankful for. It is a moving time of conversation and fellowship. We enjoyed sharing it with our son’s friend, giving us the opportunity to talk about Jesus and why we are thankful for His grace, mercy, and coming to earth for us. We listened as he also told us about how he and his family celebrate special holidays and events.
In Psalms 107:9, it says, “For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” We have a generous God. Since the beginning of time, the table has been a place used for events like celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation parties, holidays, “just because” family dinners, Bible study gatherings, and many other occasions. It is often in these moments around the table that I personally sense God’s generosity and presence in profound ways.
How about you? How do you use the table to celebrate? Do you have a favorite tradition in your home? The table is ultimately a place to connect. It’s a place where many people come alive. It is a place where you are fed spiritually and nutritionally. Everything God does is purposeful every part of a meal has a reason. My hope is you find joy around the table, he has a spread for you and just remember this is just a sampling, an appetizer of what is to come.
— Sue M. Lindsey © October 2024
