People look at me in amazement when I tell them about what I learned at my dinner table when I was young. You see, my mother made 4 different meals every night so that each one of us would eat what was served. My sister Dawn would not eat dairy except ice cream, so she got ice cream every night. Debbie would not eat any food that touched some other food so her food was always carefully placed to ensure she would eat. My Dad would not eat “rabbit food” so he had meat and potatoes. And me…I would not eat peas, Yuk! And my mom, bless her heart, she ate a combination of the 4 other meals she prepared. Oh, and the rule in our house was you never had to eat everything on your plate, just eat what you wanted and leave the rest.
I never dreaded coming to the table, I never tried to feed my dog under the table. Dinner time was a time of nourishment that was catered specifically to me, great conversation, (a little teasing Debbie, who I could make run from the table crying by opening my mouth with chewed food) and a life lesson Dad would teach. Dinner time was 5:00, Mom was consistent, all 5 of us, every day.
The Christian Band, Leeland has a great song called “Carried to the Table.” As a child of God, I have a choice to take my seat at the Table of the Lord, but how many times do I stay outside to play or throw what He has for me to the dog under the table or I slip out of my seat and hide under the table in shame.
When I think about it I don’t belong at His table, but everyday he sweeps me away and carries me to His table, consistent, just like my Mom. He chooses me, He asks me to sit with Him, He prepares a meal specifically for me. When I look at the other people sitting at the table with me their plates don’t look anything like mine. My plate is bright pylon orange with hot pink poke a dots, but the man sitting next to me, his plate is just plain light blue and the girl across from me has light pink flowers all over her plate. The funny thing is they are all excited by the decorated plate they have, just like I am. It was catered to our personality. And our cups, they each have a different measure in them, some are barely filled, others are filled to the brim, yet as I look around, others have half full/half empty cups depending on my perspective that meal.
But what I do notice, that is different than my childhood dinner table, is that we all have the same food on the plate. We are all learning the same biblical principals just in different quantities. My plate has a large helping of submission and self control while I see others with large helpings of letting go of fear, or learning to have confidence or learning to be honest, or being less prideful. All plates that would be easier for me to swallow but God know’s I don’t need that nourishment right now. He knows I must eat of submission and self control.
He has catered to me so why is it so hard to accept the food on my plate? Why are His life lessons harder to take than my Dad’s? Maybe, because it is fun to stay outside and play? Or what if He asks me to try the mushy peas of self control or submit everything on my plate? Fear strikes that I am not good enough, I am weak, I am broken, I am lost and alone so I slip off my chair and sit under the table with the dog.
He says “No, get back in your seat.” Choose me, I chose you! He shows me biblical hope that He has the master plan and I just have to eat what He has set before me. It may be mushy but He will be there sitting next to me encouraging me to do what’s right. He will cradle me with His Love, His Grace and His Mercy. In my weakness under the table, I realize I am still sitting in His Holy presence, I am healed and unashamed. I don’t see my brokenness anymore so I climb back up and take my rightful seat at His Table. Prepared for what He has to give me, the nourishment I need, the life lessons and even a little teasing!
What is on your decorated plate today? And what does your plate look like?
God does not need your capabilities, He just needs your availability!
Come sit at the Table of the Lord with me. Dinner time is 5:00, sharp! Tammy