Elbows Around the Table

While we seldom use the dining room table in our home, Christmas and Thanksgiving mostly, it was the center of attention last night. It is designed to seat six comfortably with lots of elbow room. Eight is not too many if you like the people. Last night my perfect bride asked me to set eleven (11) chairs around the table. She was having “friends” over for. . .well, whatever it is they do.

I suggested that they might want to use the dining room table, and the “breakfast room” table which we utilize for meals most of the time. I was sent to my room to think about how I should just do what I am told. (I did, by the way)

Turns out fourteen (14) showed up. I trekked in to say “hi.” I consider them all my friends too, but they don’t let me stay in the room. They were all crowded together, having a meal, racing through dessert, and playing their “game.”

From my computer where I worked during the “party” I could hear the laughter, squeals (they might not like that word), and screams (the good kind) of joy and happiness.  They truly seemed to enjoy what they were doing, and more, each other.

Isn’t that the way all of life should be? Surrounded by folks you care so much about that you don’t mind if your elbows and forks are touching, life, even for an hour or two, is, as my friend Bruce says, “just right.”

Over six or seven decades or so, that old table has had a few folks around it. I am thinking Heaven might be a lot like that. Maybe that is why the Book calls it the “marriage supper.” Who knows who you might find at your elbow.