I’m pretty sure I need to purchase this sign and hang it in our dining room. I love the simplicity of not only the sign, but the word. Gather. To come together around a central point or assemble.  The whole idea of sharing a meal together with friends or family around a table makes me smile.  There is just something so beautiful about something so basic.  A full table.

Up until recently, Ben and I have repeatedly talked ourselves out of extending the invitation to friends and family to gather around our dining room table. We’re in the middle of remodeling. Everything isn’t finished. We don’t have a table large enough to fit everyone. We’re living in an apartment. Our house isn’t very big. What would we even prepare for the meal? What if we invite and no one accepts? Everyone is so busy. Excuse after excuse. Year after year.  And the truth is, I know we’ve definitely missed out on a number of opportunities to connect. To encourage. To extend love. To listen. To share. To open not only our home, but our hearts.

Several weeks ago we extended an invite and the offer was accepted. Having everyone around our dining room table enjoying a meal together felt so right. Actually, it was awesome!  During the meal (By the way, we ordered carry out from an Italian restaurant so there goes the excuse of what to cook), I couldn’t help myself. I had to tell everyone how happy I was that they were seated around our table. The table that I’ve been wanting to see full for years now. I wanted them to know how much we appreciated them saying yes to our invitation to gather.

It’s good for the soul to gather with others. If you’ve been holding back and making excuses, I hope you’ll challenge yourself to do what we did. Extend the invite to gather (even though all of the excuses are still there) and enjoy the blessings that follow. The company. The conversation. The fun and the laughter. The food. The entertainment. All that comes as a result of simply being together.  There’s just nothing quite like the joy found at a full table.