We had a group of
friends over last night. Everyone
brought their own meat to grill and some sort of side dish. My husband and I provided the deck. We set up an extra table with chairs so that
everyone could enjoy alfresco dining.
We laughed, held babies, answered curious questions from small children,
played croquet and fetch with the dog.
There was nothing spectacular about the event. I didn't go all out, I didn't stress for
days, I didn't try to impress. I
basically opened my home and my heart and invited whomever I could to come.
The tablecloths have
been wiped down and folded to be put away.
The extra table has been returned to the basement and the chairs await
being put away. The croquet game is back
in it's bag, and leftover watermelon is stored in my fridge to snack on over
the next day or two.
At the end of the
evening when my husband said, "good party!" I recognized that my
heart was full. I had enjoyed listening
to various conversations float around the tables. I had savored the sounds of children in my
back yard again. I had delighted in
laughter and new memories and fabulous friends. It's a bit
startling when you grasp for a moment
how blessed you are over the simplest things: I basically opened my home and my
heart and invited whomever I could to come.
There's something scriptural in that I believe.
We all want to be
included. We all long for someone to invite us to come. Every one of us desires moments of
belonging. God reminded me how simply
that can be done when one is willing to throw wide the door and put on an
attitude of welcome. People came to my
welcome and I felt welcomed in their response.
Maybe I should put my extra table back out on the deck…
