You've heard of The Great Banquet, right?
Most of you know that before Mom's stroke, she was THE entertainer. As long as I can remember, we seemed to be having company for dinner. On Sundays when I was growing up, the question was rarely "What's for dinner?" but rather, "Who is coming for dinner?" We always had dinner guests...old friends, new friends to the church, or people who had no family and were lonely. Mom was the epitome of "hospitality".
She had the "Martha" hospitality in that she opened her doors to just about anyone - just like Martha did with Jesus. But unlike Martha, Mom always had everything planned, prepared and ready so she had time for her guests. When they arrived, everything was ready so she was able to sit and enjoy their time with us like Martha's sister, Mary. Mom had a "Mary heart" with a "Martha mentality" - the best of both!
This Christmas, Lori and I gave Mom/Dad a "Little Banquet" for each season...one day out of each season to invite whoever they wanted for dinner. We'd prepare and serve while they just enjoyed their time together. Yesterday was our Spring Fling and Mom/Dad's long time friends, Jack and Betty Toombs and Mike and Adele Murdick came to the Little Banquet. What fun it was.
The bible places great value on "hospitality", starting in Genesis and continuing throughout. And banqueting - eating together - was one of the most common ways of showing hospitality and having fellowship with others. Lori and I commented after it was over that their time today must have been a little preview of what the Great Banquet will be like. Old friends, laughing and talking, praising God for all the things he had done, experiencing the joy that he desires to give us everyday.
I said, "How comforting it must be to know that Mom/Dad and their friends will all be together in heaven someday." You know them by their fruits. It is so obvious that God is the center of their lives. This "Little Banquet" probably did more for Lori and I than it did for our parents and their friends. It gaves us a delicious taste of heaven and the Great Banquet to come..
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2 comments:
Audi -- Mom cried and I beamed with pride as we watched the blog tonight (Sunday 9:00 pm). What a wonderful time we had at the "Little/Big Banquet." We enjoy your Smile Boxes so much and your expressions of Christian faith even more.
The food was delicious! The entertainment you and Lori gave us was remarkable. Your duet "It Is Well With My Soul" got us all choked up and anxious to hear more. We must have done something right when we raised you kids, and we are delighted to see it manifested in your Christian faith.
Love -- Poppo & Mommo
Wow, ... Nelson, I agree with you, brother. If our two daughters did something like that I'd totally lose it! But the memories Audi and Lori created for y'all are, as the Mastercard commercial says, "Priceless!"
I'm going to be coming up your way, Cathcarts and Chamberlins, in May; and I sure hope I can "hook up" with you folks to share a little time with y'all when I'm there on May 15th (as Audi says would be the best time).
I told Audi in a separate email, I'd love to have the opportunity to join the Chamberlin sisters in some singing with you folks. I'm not in Audi's or Lori's league with regard to singing; but I love to make a joyful "noise" and share in songs like "It Is Well With My Soul" or other old Christian favorites. Hope we can make this happen. ...
Blessings ... "Billy Bob" [my TN name]
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