Life around the table.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of two of my worlds colliding. A group of women that I am in a small group with at church came to volunteer for the nonprofit I work for.

The homeowners I get to meet, the stories I get to hear, and the conversations I get to have are by far my favorite part of what I do. Building up to the volunteer day, I was thrilled to get to share a small piece of that with this group of friends who have gained a special place in my heart over the past year.

The couple who welcomed us into their home that Saturday morning might just be two of the most delightful people I have ever met. Mr. B is a World War II veteran, and he has been married to Mrs. B. for 60 years. Their children are grown, one a missionary in Russia and the other the pastor of the local church they attend. Their living room is covered in family photos, reminiscent of years of heartfelt memories. Love lives in that home and you can feel it as soon as you walk in the door.

In the list of home repairs they asked for, Mrs. B added one request on to the end, one for her favorite room in their home. The kitchen. That's where we came in. By the time we were finished with our volunteer day, the walls and cabinets were a lovely light mint green color. Though the transformation was beautiful, something else resonated with me more.

After we painted, we put everything back in its place including the kitchen table. Though the home and kitchen were small, the table was not. The ratio of space it took up in the room spoke to its value and importance in the home. Mrs. B is constantly in her kitchen baking Amish bread (apple, pumpkin...you name it, she bakes it) and stores the loaves in the freezer to hand out to anyone who visits her home. The day our group painted, Mrs. B was at a church retreat, but baked two fresh loaves and left them for a snack since she knew we were coming. After Mr. B took a look at the paint job, we all gathered around the table, sliced up the bread, and shared what i will always cherish as a memory together.

While we were surrounding the table, Mr. B asked us all to write down our names so his wife could pray for us each by name. He kindly told us that she prays for everyone in America. We all gladly obliged. How can you say no to that?  He told us fellowship is a big part of his and Mrs. B's life and assured us that we were all welcome in their home any time we wanted to stop by.

I am currently reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Shauna Niequest, called Bread and Wine. One of my good friends, Allison, introduced me to Shauna (I like to think we are on a first name basis), and I was immediately hooked. Shauna speaks my language- food, fellowship, and stories. In all of her books, this one in particular, Shauna highlights the beauty of living life around the table. She insinuates that some of life's best moments happen while sharing the breaking of bread. I can't help but agree.

I don't know about you, but I love food. I love to bake it, cook it, and eat it. I love the colors, the smells, and the tastes. Though God created us all uniquely, there are some things we all have in common, one being that food is an essential part of our lives. I believe that beauty comes in sharing that commonality together. Perhaps God created that need in the human body to draw us together for one common purpose, to create a central meeting point in our lives, a point to stop and to share. The chance to share an old memory and the opportunity to create new ones to cherish in the process.

Some of my favorite times are spent sitting across the table from those that I love the most. Whether it is cooking a meal together or sharing conversation over a cup of coffee, there is something about the table that I love.

I love to listen, and I love stories. I love learning where people have come from, what they are going through, and what God is teaching them through it. Maybe thats why I love the table so much. It creates  a space for all of those things. A space without technology, without the scurrying of feet to get somewhere, and without an agenda.

Sharing a meal is an invitation to share the heart. Though I would love a table large enough to seat all of my closest friends, I am just as happy with one set for two.

I think Shauna and Mr. and Mrs. B have the right idea, and I hope one day, my table can be as inviting as theirs. A home, a table, and life aren't made to be empty. They are meant to be filled. Filled with heartfelt relationships and deep love and overflowing with stories of life's beauty and God's goodness.

May your life always hold a place to call home. May your home always hold a table. And may your table always be overflowing with recipes worth sharing, those people you cherish the most, and moments that make you stop and recognize God's love and blessings each and every day.