At Our Table, There Is Room

This week, we felt a pull to co-write one post for the week about invitation, community, support, and love. We talk about room at the table. One thing to preface: this table is not our table. Only by the grace of God are we given a table at all to commune at. And through that same grace, we want you to sit at the table too.

Courtney’s seat at the table

Even when there is room at the table, I don't always feel invited.

If you know me, you know that I am loud and socially awkward. I have a tendency to roll over people in conversation, unintentionally of course, in order for myself to be heard. It is exhausting.

I am learning to press pause in the moments where I feel I need to butt in just to be heard. I am learning to listen more and talk less. At the table, I don't want people to feel uninvited. I want to have real, intentional conversations with all and place their needs above my own. As a Christian, that's what I am called to do.

Picture one of those long beautiful charcuterie tables you see on Pinterest. At first glance, it's messy and crowded. When you look deep at all of the pieces, they are all beautiful and add so much flavor to the table as a whole. The dishes are spread out across this very long table, creating a beautiful and plentiful spread. I believe that this should be a perfect picture of us as the church, but we unfortunately know that this is not always the case.

When we come to sit at the table, someone ends up sitting at the ends. The more room you make at the table, the further away someone feels from the conversation. The dream of Words Like Honey is to offer a seat to everyone.

We began as a place where Samantha, Abby, and myself could share the Gospel with others and what affect it can have on any and every life. A place to share God's faithfulness even in times of uncertainty.

Words Like Honey is and always will be a safe place for our followers. If you have access to this blog, you have a seat at our table! We want to be a place to share your struggles, your victories, and all things between. At this table, the more people we have, the closer we feel. We believe in less 'other,' less 'outside,' less 'outlier.'

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 says it beautifully,

Abby’s seat at the table

To piggyback off of Courtney, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 so simply and beautifully that elaboration would not do it justice. We are all one body of Christ. We have one common goal, and we cannot do it without each other. The table is not made up of one part, but many.

With all this table talk, it’s important to note who was at Jesus’ table, or rather, whose table Jesus was at. He ate at the table of tax collectors (not the same as tax collectors today—they were generally viewed as greedy thieves), uninvited guests, self-righteous pharisees, and traitors. His fear of what others would say of him was nonexistent. He aimed to please his Father, not the townspeople. He ate with them to show love and stress the importance of a sincere faith, not just one that looks good on the outside.

What sticks with me is not the times I’ve felt left out or unwelcomed within a group. (Although there are plenty of those times—whether I really was unwelcomed or my social anxiety planted that thought in my head I can never be sure.) No, what sticks with me is when people go out of their way to make someone new within a group feel loved. I always aim to be like these people. You know the kind—the kind who take themselves away from the comfort of their friends to sit with the new girl or ask if she’s got plans for lunch.

This kind of love strikes me the hardest when people show it to me. The thought of joining a small group terrified me, but Courtney and Sam have made me feel so loved and welcomed. (And yes, I was invited to lunch. Food=love.) And Jesus did the same. He went out of his way to show his love for others. He never said, “I can’t eat with Zacchaeus today, I’ve got plans, I’m way too busy!”

No, his plans were to love on people. His plans were to invite them to his table and share the love and hope the Father offers. Peter puts it plainly in 1 Peter 4:9 when he says to “show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” I love this verse because Peter could’ve said to show hospitality and leave it at that. But saying “without grumbling” requires a sincerity of the heart. It shows you can do all the deeds til the cows come home, but without sincerity in your heart, it’s worthless. We must do it because we love the Lord and we love people.

At the table, hearts are sincere.

Samantha’s seat at the table

You are always welcome at this table!

Growing up I was incredibly blessed with a great group of friends that always made me feel welcome and others welcome as well. We made sure others had someone to sit with because that’s the worst feeling when you go somewhere new and have no one to sit with.

It wasn’t until college that I truly felt unwelcome, and man, that was so hard to swallow. Up until college, I was a social butterfly, easily made friends, and never felt a sense of loneliness. Every time I think of being unwelcome, I think back to my first couple weeks of college. I went to a school with people I knew from high school, but I felt so alone. I would go to the on campus dining hall and sit in a corner alone because there was never room at other’s tables. It was like everyone had a friend and I missed out. I’m usually not a cryer, but I cried so much during that time. Just plain sobbing at the thought that no one wanted to have me around and I would think if they only got to know me maybe they’d like me or maybe they’d at least like to eat lunch with me!

I never want others to feel the way I felt almost 6 years ago. I am thankful for a group that went out of their way to include me in their lunchtimes and into their group. And I am thankful now for the group I found in Abby and Courtney. I am thankful for the grace they give me each and every day. I am thankful for a table to offer others in this blog and the hopes that you always feel welcome at it. If you are someone who feels unwelcome, don’t lose hope, because you always have a table to sit at with us.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11