Growing up, Thanksgiving was a big event in our home—often bringing together 30 or more people. We’d always pull in an extra table to fit everyone. I can still picture my mom in the kitchen, managing the chaos, while I mostly stayed out of her way. Those days, with my parents at the center, are long past. Now, as my parents are gone and my siblings have their own families and traditions, the shape of our gatherings has shifted. Yet, sitting around the table still brings a flood of cherished memories.
As I reflect on the tables I’ve set and the changing faces that have come to sit around them, I’m struck by how much has evolved. At first, it was my parents at the head of the table when I began hosting; then, friends, neighbors, and even strangers passed through. And now, it’s my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren. It’s become a rare and precious thing to have everyone around the table at once, and I know there will come a time—if it hasn’t already—when those moments will become few and far between.
For me, setting the table has taken on a deeper meaning. It’s become a metaphor for life. I love preparing the table, literally and metaphorically, because it’s my invitation to whoever wants to gather. Who shows up is out of my hands, but my role is to prepare, to offer the invitation, and to delight in whoever joins me in that moment. It’s a simple act but full of meaning.
As a spiritual director, I’ve had the privilege of “setting the table” for individuals and groups—whether for a half-day retreat, a listening group, or a spiritual formation residency. Each experience brings me joy, but it also brings me back to those family meals. At the heart of it all is a desire for connection, sometimes in the mundane, everyday moments. Each opportunity is about looking across the table and seeing the other person as deeply loved.
For Jesus, the home is not what defines the table; the table is what defines the home. If we were to make the table the most sacred object of furniture in every home, church, and community, our faith would quickly regain its power, and our world would quickly become a better place. -Len Sweet
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, I invite you to pause and reflect on the opportunity to be a conduit of Jesus’ love. How can your presence bring that love to each person gathered around you? May it be in both word and deed.
Happy Thanksgiving.
SPECIAL NOTE: I am deeply grateful to you who have supported my writing by reading and joining the conversation. Thank you for your accepting this invitation to my table (blog). I am so happy to see you here with me.