Welcome

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…