A Message from My Mother's Table

On Sunday we did the traditional thing we do at Easter: we ate together as a family. We ate way too much, and afterwards, we were miserable, but it was so good. I'm guessing it's what many of you did as well. And if you're like me, you repented this morning for too much ham and too many helpings of potatoes, and today, maybe you ate a little less, or at least, I hope so. But in eating a big family dinner, I was reminded of many Easter Sundays, seated as a family at my mother's table. Those were really good times, and I learned some important things there.

At my mother's table, I learned to sit and be still. We spent many a Sunday sitting for hours after a meal, just talking as a family and spending time together. It's a part of my "home" family that I miss, but it's a tradition I'm extending into my own family.

At my mother's table, I felt peace. There were never controversial discussions . . . never arguments . . . just chatter, great Southern food, and relaxation. Pink-silk-pajama relaxation.

At my mother's table, I learned love. I looked forward to every meal, knowing that her table was a place of acceptance. It was a place of no pressure . . . just easy, comfortable, Southern love.

And from these lessons at Momma's table, I learned a thing or two about God, even though I didn't know it at the time. God wants us to come to His table, sit in His presence and just be still. He wants us to put on our "pajamas" and relax at His table, not rushing away to wash the dishes or put the food in the refrigerator. He just wants us to sit at His feet and bask in conversation with Him. He wants us to find peace in His presence, peace that passes understanding. Peace that the world won't understand but we do when we sit still and let God share His bounty with us.

And finally, when we hang out with God, we experience love. Complete, unconditional, amazing love. Love that we can't earn, love that we can't buy . . . passionate, fatherly, magnificent, sacrificial love. I felt that at my momma's table, and I feel it even more powerfully at the Father's table. I know complete, total love when I look on the cross, knowing what He sacrificed for me. I know merciful love when I approach the mercy seat and find Jesus there, waiting to enfold me in His grace. I know fatherly love when He allows me to drop to my knees and cry in His presence, casting all my cares on Him, because as the scripture says, He cares for us.

So I guess my momma's table was a pretty good forerunner for what I am experiencing with God today, and if you're hungry, come to God's table and take a seat. You will leave there, never to hunger and thirst again, filled with God's righteousness and His power.