Memories Around The Kitchen Table

I've been doing a Bible Study this summer called "100 days of Pressing Pause".  This is a book written by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk which is made up of "100 Quiet Moments For Moms to Meet with Jesus."  

One of the devotions this week was called "Gathering Around The Table".   The Bible Verse was:

"When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of  God"  Luke 14:15.

This got me to thinking about all the memories associated with our kitchen table. 

Here's what I see today:

There are recent crayon marks made by a special two year old.  These will be easy to clean off.

A wooden tray made for me by my step son-in-law.

Round rattan place mats from Dollar General.

Pioneer Woman plates from Walmart.

Red and White checked cushions in the chairs.

But more important is what I see in my mind's eye.   There are bits and pieces of memories, traces of love, sad things, bittersweet things, happy things, and more, associated with the table.

I remember the day the table was delivered back in 1984.

I remember my children sitting around this table eating.  They ate lots of spaghetti!

My son, Josh, who died at age 2, sat in his high chair at this table.

Lots and lots of HOMEWORK was done at this table!!!!

The broken place that was glued back together.  Wood glue works good!

My son, Jacob, broke the table and it had to be glued back together.   You can't tell it now and its as sturdy as ever.  Bet you are wondering how that happened!

I've seen my husband wipe off this table about a million times! 

My daughter, Lori, played with a Christmas ornament at the table and accidentally broke it.  I wish I had not gotten upset with her... sigh.

My husband and I played lots of cards at the table, once upon a time.

Numerous holidays, birthdays, ordinary meals, decorations.  A baby shower.  A wedding shower.  The Thanksgiving turkey that I roasted with the bag of stuff still inside it.  Vases of flowers from loved ones, or zinnias picked from the yard. Grandkids eating watermelon. Lasagna.

Plates of food wrapped with plastic wrap, left for a loved one to eat when they got home late.

Doing taxes with a calculator borrowed from work.

There is no telling how many quilts I have pin basted on that table!

Holding hands with family while saying the blessing before a meal.

The thought has crossed my mind to replace the table with a more current style, but you know what?  I don't think so.  Now that I've thought about it, our table is a sacred space.

What about you?  Does your table bring back special memories?