The Empty Table

Sometimes an empty table is the greatest blessing you can have…

Do you ever have those moments when you realize that you will never grasp the truly complete fullness of God?

Yeah, me too. All the time.

He is so sovereign and so massive, I don’t think I will ever be able to grasp His fullness. And I don’t know if we are meant to.

But today He blessed me with a very large, full part of how truly great He is. And He did it while I stared at an empty table.

First of all let me tell you, our home isn’t huge, and I have lots of furniture and what-not everywhere. But it’s our home and God has blessed us so abundantly. Well, today my gracious husband allowed me to use his manly, rustic, woodsy-themed man cave to host a ladies brunch. Because undoubtedly it’s the only room in the house big enough to accompany 15 women. So, by 11 a.m. this man cave adorned copious amounts of pink things, fufu stuff, floral arrangements, scones, and cupcakes. Bless this man’s heart and I thank the Lord for him. He gave up his man cave so I could do girl things.

That’s love y’all.

I was blessed by some very dear ladies from my church family during our brunch time. And when I say ladies from my church family, I mean the multi-cultural, multi-generational, all differences aside, let’s be the church type of family. They allowed me to serve them, to talk with them, to share with them, to laugh with them, and to cry with them.

And oh did God move.

Two and a half hours later I stood in the basement alone looking at the chairs left haphazardly from my sisters leaving, flowers, plates, and cups still on the table. Not a soul around. The Empty Table. And I felt God’s fullness more than I had in a long time. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them. Matthew 18:20

Oh yes Lord, you were. And we are thankful.

You see, that empty table at the end of our time together stood as a symbol. A symbol of togetherness. A symbol of love. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 You see, I in no way set that table. No ma’am. God did. He set it and then He blessed it.

I am so thankful for the women God has put in my life. He knows the vessels we need in our life. The people willing to speak truth to us, encourage us, cry with us, and just do all-around life with us.

He knows. Completely.

The table is an important symbol in our homes, our churches, our missions, and our lives. We invite others around them. They are intimate symbols of doing life together. Though at some point that table will be empty, God shows us that the people we have invited and loved around that table leaves an everlasting imprint.

Dear Loving Father,

Thank you for your sovereignty, your love, and your grace, Lord.  Today I pray for my sister. That she may seek you in all she does, Lord. Please give her peace, protection, perseverance, and wisdom in her daily life Lord. And Lord, please guide her in continuing to be a blessing in her home, her church, her career, and her mission. Lord I ask that you bless her table and those she invites around it.

In Jesus name,

Amen

P.S. Lord, bless the husbands who put their man stuff aside so out of love for their wives so that we may do girl things. They are a true blessing.