“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:”
Psalm 23:5a
A beautifully set dinner table provides a warm and inviting welcome. It shows hospitality. It puts guests at ease while exhibiting the thought and time invested in the preparations. It says,
“Thank you for coming and I hope you enjoy yourself.”
It can be a fun and creative way to bring encouragement and enjoyment to those dining at your table.
Sure, we can eat dinner on the go. It gets the job done. But, there is nothing like a family or group of friends gathered at a table to enjoy great laughs and conversations with glass plates, glasses and real forks. Yes, it takes a little more work and money, and may require putting dishes in the dishwasher, but, the benefits are priceless.
Fast-paced lives with fast food and frozen dinners have taken many of us away from the table and far from setting or decorating it. We quit using Grandma’s china long ago and barely use the “everyday” dishes. Finding time to eat has become more challenging than how we eat it.
When we were first married and in college, our income was limited. One evening, my husband came in from work and politely asked, “So, what’s for dinner?” I was still pondering what to make with our slim pickings and continued to set the table as I smiled at him and calmly said, “Well…tonight…we’re livin’ on love.”
We don’t have to be serving steaks, celebrating special occasions or having guests to set a nice table. We can make every night special while teaching children good habits in the process. It’s amazing how much better a peanut butter and jelly sandwich tastes served on a glass plate at the table than on a paper plate in the living room.
Create Your Personal Touches
Table settings can be plain, simple and informal. They don’t have to break your budget or your back. Setting the table doesn’t have to be a chore that becomes:
- stressful
- strenuous
- seriously dreaded
Have fun with it. There are many printed and online resources to give you inspiration.
Consider Your Guest’s Perspective
It’s best to set the table from the guest’s perspective. Ask what will make them comfortable and meet their needs. A big bouquet of fresh flowers might be pretty, but if they have allergies or it blocks their view and hinders conversation, it needs to go. Perspective is more important than place setting.
Also, carefully consider where you sit your guests to prevent tension or drama. Bad attitudes can ruin aesthetics. Pretty tablecloths, napkins, and placemats won’t cover up the ugliness of disagreeable dinner guests.
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” Proverbs 15:17
Disunity is disturbing. It may be why many have stopped eating together. Drama can make food hard to swallow.
It’s much nicer to gather at the table in one accord while having fun, eating good food and enjoying each other’s company. Maybe it’s time we all slow down, set aside our differences, start setting the table and get back to enjoying what we’re eating and those we’re eating with.
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” Acts 2:46
Bring It Home
Can you find a fun way to set your table for a party of one or more tonight?
Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC
Good evening, I’ve read your interesting articles: relaxing ver powerful and planting that hit home. I loved to plant flowers in the spring and in the late evening go out and water, yes it got to be a bit much after I had cataract surgery and I’m not able to go outside and do all the bending and pulling weeds. This year I haven’t planted anything yet but if I do it will be small something I can really handle. I thank God for meeting your husband today while we both waited to get our vehicles serviced. He told me about your blog and for some reason I couldn’t get it on my phone and he let me use his to read your blog. I was determined tonight to log on in my quite time and re-read your articles and let them soak in. I plan to pass your blog on to some of my other prayer partners. Thank you
Welcome to my Galvanized Gardens Bonnie!
Thank you for reading, replying to and re-gifting my blog to your friends. My husband said he enjoyed meeting and chatting with you while waiting on the car repair. Please come visit my blog anytime.
Yes, that bending and pulling weeds can be tedious work. That is one reason I have chosen to do “raised” container gardens. It puts the work up higher and limits the weeding and maintaining. It is much more enjoyable for me now.
I hope you are able to get out and enjoy your garden again soon.
Smiles, BRC