{"id":1045,"date":"2013-08-10T02:55:18","date_gmt":"2013-08-10T02:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kandynolesstevens.com\/?p=1045"},"modified":"2013-08-10T02:55:18","modified_gmt":"2013-08-10T02:55:18","slug":"not-at-my-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/?p=1045","title":{"rendered":"Not at my table"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twice on my trip to Kentucky, I was invited to dine at the home of one of the most adorable Sunday school teachers.\u00a0 Cloaked inside her petite exterior is one of the biggest hearts I have ever met. A heart that has been equipped with the gift of hospitality which made my own heart do flipper-de-loos each time I crossed the steps into her adorable cottage style home.<\/p>\n

Lovingly known as \u201cMiss E\u201d to some, she has a personality that draws near.\u00a0 (On a side note, she is a teacher (not just on Sundays), and I have long been drawn to other lovers of learning.) Her humble home just exudes \u201cCome on in. Sit a spell. And the proverbial Southern favorite, \u201cY\u2019all eaten yet?\u201d.<\/p>\n

On that last one, she didn\u2019t have to ask because we were invited there for that very reason.\u00a0 Well, that and of course, good old-fashioned girl time.\u00a0 One night we even had dinner and a movie \u2013 a chick flick with pizza and tissues.\u00a0 All girls will get that combination.<\/p>\n

Clearly a proud momma, her decor consisted of artwork done by her very talented children.\u00a0 Rooms filled with a delightful mix of family heirlooms and inviting, cushioning chairs beckoned my soul to slow down and relax.\u00a0 All of it beautiful without being showy.<\/p>\n

But there was something present that the eye could not see, but the spirit could certainly feel.\u00a0 This home \u2013 this communion of souls \u2013 was filled with the grace that only can be found when God\u2019s love is present.<\/p>\n

One moment will be forever etched in my memory.\u00a0 For our first dinner it was requested\u00a0that we\u00a0bring our own beverages to accompany the meal.\u00a0 Grabbing our favorite drinks \u2013 a Coke in a bottle and McD\u2019s sweet tea in the Styrofoam cup \u2013 we happily arrived feeling we were allowed to add something to the evening\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n

As we gathered at the table, Miss E informed us that we could place our beverages in the goblets already on the table.\u00a0 One among us protested that wasn\u2019t necessary.\u00a0 In a gentle but firm reply, we were informed that at her home we WOULD NOT be using those containers.<\/p>\n

As my Mama would say, \u201cWe are not common people\u201d.\u00a0 That old saying was fitting here. We were not just guests. No!\u00a0We were beloved sisters in Christ \u2013\u00a0blessed with the\u00a0gift of friendship.<\/p>\n

Looking back, I realized that someday that\u2019s how it will be at Jesus’ table.\u00a0 Imagine it! He will want only the best setting\u00a0 for his girls.\u00a0 All the junk (rage, bitterness, fear, worry, doubt) we allow into our lives really doesn\u2019t belong at His table anyway.\u00a0 I don’t think Jesus cares about the quality of the china, but he does cars about the way we approach the table. It is the effort that we give to each other through his grace that matters. If that\u00a0(like Miss E’s glasses) is how we come together, then the dining will be divinely appointed!<\/p>\n

Not so long ago at the table of one sweet lady, I was served with Southern hospitality and dined, grace-filled, like royalty.<\/p>\n

Comforted to know I really am, and thankful to have been reminded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Miss<\/a>

Miss E and I waiting for my train to arrive<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Twice on my trip to Kentucky, I was invited to dine at the home of one of the most adorable Sunday school teachers.\u00a0 Cloaked inside her petite exterior is one of the biggest hearts I have ever met. A heart that has been equipped with the gift of hospitality which made my own heart do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[713,114,714,312,321,707,715,716,606,717],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1045"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.realsweetgrace.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}