The table is an invitation. Do you agree with this idea – Most completely and perfectly, coming to the table could be seen as an intimate connection.
When we invite friends for a meal, we do much more than offer them food for their bodies. We offer friendship, good conversation, and closeness. When we say, “Help yourself. Take some more. Have another glass!” we offer our guests not only our food and drink but also ourselves. We create a bond.
We officially released my cookbook, Come to the Table. (Thank you to everyone that has purchased it already.) But, to me, it’s more than a cookbook; it’s a call to return to the table. But, unfortunately, coming to the table has taken a back seat in our society.
It seems like an insignificant practice, but my entire life was formed around the family table. In the cookbook, I tell stories of sitting around our family table on the farm. There were 10 of us, and without fail, we enjoyed three meals together every day around our kitchen table.
We did not have great communication skills and had very few deep conversations because we all constantly talked over each other!
What I did learn, however, was that family was important to my mom and dad.
They took the time to be with us and feed us. My mom was always up at the crack of dawn to care for all eight kids. By the time we were dressed for the day and had the barn chores done, Mom had the table set and ready. She did it without complaining, always had a cheerful heart and a smile, and often sang as she cooked and served.
I realize we’re living in a different era, and only a few have the privilege of growing up on a simple family farm. However, one thing that has stayed the same is that we all love to eat.
But meals are often rushed these days. We eat and drink in our cars as we race to work or the next scheduled appointment. Who has time to make a meal and sit at the table? Our culture has dramatically changed since I was a child. We gravitate towards what’s convenient and fast because of the demands of life.
I think most of us believe we don’t have time to sit around the table. I understand this. I remember when my life was radically changed, and the family meal at the table took a back seat to the demands of the family business.
I’ve learned over the years that sometimes we need to go back in time to find a lost treasure. The lost treasure, in this case, is the connection found around the table.
I encourage you to take some time, make a simple meal (perhaps one from my cookbook), and experience the beauty of gathering around a table.
See yourself as a host to serve food but, more importantly, serve love, comfort, value, and stories and connect meaningfully with family, friends, and strangers.
May we all find time to come to the table.
