Room Enough

Oh, the days when I drew lines around my faith
To keep you out, to keep me in, to keep it safe
Oh, the sense of my own self-entitlement
To say who's wrong, who won't belong, who cannot stay

Cause somebody somewhere decided
We'd be better off divided
And somehow, despite the damage done--
He says, 'Come...'

Ever since I was a young child, I have always loved the image of huge, rustic banquet table. Yes, I love feasting!...but it is more that that--I love the picture of a table where no one is turned away. All are welcome, no one is cramped, and the wine and bread overflow. A celebration in its entirety.

My boys--Cole, especially--must have inherited this deep longing that I have for the fellowship and comraderie that reside in a banquet with food and room for all. He occasionally dreams aloud about the table in heaven and tries to estimate how long it must be! I love this because I believe that God's heart is for us to care less about determining where exactly all the little boundaries and differences between us lie, and instead to reach out, to love, to break bread together and live life in community.

But
Oh, the times when I have failed to recognize
How many chairs are gathered there around the feast
To break the bread and break these boundaries
That have kept us from our only common ground
The invitation to sit down
If we will come

There is room enough for all of us
Please come
And the arms are open wide enough
Please come
And our parts are never greater than the sum
This is the heart of the One
Who stands before an open door
And bids us 'Come'

I feel sometimes in this life like a child back in the schoolyard, hoping not to be picked last and feeling an ache in my heart for the one that is. Do we ever really outgrow this yearning to be welcomed into the fold? There have been too many times in my life--even as an adult--when I have been insensitive and uncaring to those waiting on the periphery for an invitation to be let in. There have been just as many times that I have waited, myself, for that invitation. The idea of a banquet table--my Lord's banquet table!--where there is a seat reserved for me, a glass of wine waiting in anticipation for my arrival, and One standing at the door to usher me in--well, it is almost more than I can bear. I can't think of anything greater than to be welcomed to the table of He who created the universe. I am absolutely humbled and terrifyingly overwhelmed.

***********************************

Justin made me a table for Christmas.

It is seven feet long.

The table we have been using seats four comfortably. Four, and we are six...without any company! The new table is fashioned out of Justin's childhood table (in the middle, made of solid maple) and my childhood table (solid oak, cut in two and added to the ends). I cried and cried when I saw it. Not just because it is a "bigger table", but because it is a deep representation to me of the things God has been teaching me the last several years about having a truly welcoming and joyful spirit towards the people he brings my way--without reservation. It is the two of us, made better and stronger as one. It takes what was inadequate and makes it into something overflowing with purpose and life. God's provision for me abounds, and each time I am stretched, I experience more and more of his blessing. And as hard as it as gotten, that blessing is still so good, at its core, that I am absolutely unable to turn away and try it on my own! I am completely captivated by this life he has chosen for me.

There is room enough!

Thank you, Justin, for walking this journey with me, and for a gift that meets a need and speaks to my heart. It is functional and beautiful! I love every bit of it.

In Which I Shamelessly Self-Promote

In a moment of whimsy recently, we decided to try something new this holiday season: A Handmade Christmas. I've been actually thinking about the idea since last fall, when I saw one of the posh buyhandmade.org tags on the Four Little Men & Twins blog. Such a cool idea; I just didn't know if I could do it. Nothing but handmade gifts? No lego sets for the boys? (I might just cave on this one yet.) I mulled over the idea for a full 9 months before mentioning it cautiously to Justin....knowing that he would pounce on it. Guess what? He pounced on it. So here we are, planning our handmade Christmas, and having more fun than I could have anticipated!

The rules: to give only handmade gifts this year--but the gifts don't have to be made by OUR hands. (Thank goodness. I told Justin he would be getting a painted rock, a knitted flask cozy and a box of fudge....and he just might be....) We wanted to also support our local (and not-so-local...I have an etsy fetish) crafters. So we will be avoiding the mall this year (yay!) and hitting many of the craft fairs instead (yay yay!). We are also coming up with new ideas every single day of things we DO want to try to make ourselves. I'm dying to post pictures, but some of them will have to wait, since I know there are family members who read this blog. You will have to check back after Christmas for some of our more-hilarious (I mean: unique) gifts!

And we have something to offer, too. For the past several years we have been making these beautiful wooden family plaques. They are handcarved with your specific last name and wedding year, and they make a lovely gift for Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, or housewarmings. The length of the plaque is dependant on your specific information, but each one measures 8" high and is 3/4" thick. The edges are sanded to look rustic, and each sign is fitted with hanging wire.



Here's a few we've done: the photos aren't fabulous, but I will try to get some better ones to post soon:

For any readers that would like one, we will be accepting orders this year through November 30th (for delivery by Christmas). You can leave a comment here with your contact information, or email us at familysigns@live.com to place your order. Individual plaques are $30; order three or more and they are $25 a piece (shipping extra).

Your turn! If you have a handmade product you are selling this holiday season, I would love to hear about it and post a sidebar with your info to pass onto other readers. Ready, go!