The Kitchen Table

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children,  That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments… Psalms 78:6-7 

This devotional was posted a while back but I thought with everyone staying at home together, maybe this can offer a new perspective. As a result of the events of the past few weeks we all have most likely spent more time around our tables with our family.  Maybe you cooked and shared more meals together, or maybe your helped your kids or grandkids work on their schoolwork at the table. Maybe you have read the Bible and prayed together.  Whatever you are sharing at the table in your home, I hope you remember sometimes the greatest memories happen at the table.  

The Kitchen Table
When I look at my kitchen table I am reminded of many memories.  We have had that table for many years.  We have spent many moments together at that table, homeschooling, eating, visiting, doing crafts, and we are not finished with it yet. 

When the table was brand new, I tried to make sure no one wrote on it, scratched it, or nicked it, but with four kids, it didn’t take long for it to get its first scratch.  That first scratch was soon followed by paint, marker, pen marks, fork scratching, and the list goes on.  Now those marks are precious reminders to me of how life used to be.  They serve as reminders of sweet days, when at the time I might have been ready to pull my hair out.  Reminders of days gone by make us remember to be grateful for the moments we have because we realize how fast they are passing. 

We also have eaten many holiday meals around that table.  Sometimes we had extended family join us and sometimes it was just our family, enjoying a special meal on a special day together.  I remember one Thanksgiving in particular.  It was just us.  The kids were having fun, playing in the woods together.  It was cold and dreary and while they were at the woods playing, big soft snowflakes began to fall.  They had so much fun.  Then they came home to gather around the table for a warm holiday meal. 

This table is also a place where many words of wisdom have been imparted.  Here their father, while eating a meal together, shared advice with his children who soaked up every word he said.  With the busyness of life, sometimes the moments we got to spend together all in one place were few and far between.  Just having dad at the table brought a whole new dynamic to the meal, and everyone hung on his words.  In Deuteronomy, God tells us to teach our children about Him and His love.  He instructs us as parents to talk about this with our children as we sit at home.  The kitchen table is the perfect place to talk about the goodness of God. 

The scratched up, imperfect table is beautiful to me.  It has character and personality that makes it different from any other table in the world.  It holds the scars of our family, good and bad, and I love it all.  I used to want to refinish it and cover up all the blemishes, but now I know I will never change it.  I want my children to come back someday with their children and gather around that table, scratches and all.  I want them to look at it and remember the conversations, laughter, and the warmth shared there.  It is a symbol of togetherness, unity, and love. 

When  you look at your kitchen table, remember what a symbol it is.  Remember all the history it holds and all that has transpired there.  Let it be a treasure to you instead of an eyesore because the value of an object is not always in the beauty, but in the meaning it holds for us.  Our lives can be thought of in much the same way.  We are scarred and imperfect.  We have blemishes and flaws, but God still treasures us.  He sees the value beneath the finish.  Thank Him for accepting you, nicks and all.

Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7   MSG