Our home on Chandler Street was the neighborhood playground, and I was the only girl among a baseball team of boys. On some summer days, my brother would get up early and go to the field with Daddy to pick peas and pull corn. The chores had to be done first. Mama would say, "The quicker you get this corn shucked, the quicker, you can play." So, all the boys in the neighborhood helped and we were done by lunch.
We had an open-door policy in our home. Someone was always coming in or going out. Calling with a turn of the knob, "Knock, Knock," and answered from wherever we were, "Come on in." If anyone rang the doorbell or didn't say, "Knock, Knock," we knew it had to be someone we didn't know well. Somewhere along the way, the world became a scarier place and we started locking our doors.
Our family grew and we added a dining room with a big table and a big buffet. Mama always said she wanted everyone in the family to be able to sit together, even the little ones. The table was a place where we ate, talked and laughed and ate some more...and talked some more...and laughed some more. The buffet was always full. We always had more than enough. Sounds like this may be what home feels like in Heaven. God's children gathered together around His table. I'm sure there'll be more than enough.
My daughter gave me the greatest compliment one day. When she and her husband built their house, they wanted a large open space connecting the kitchen, the dining area and the family room. She said, "We always had people in our home when we were growing up. I want our home to be a place like that, a place where family and friends gather."
Life gets so busy. Too busy. As I look forward to slowing down, I want to cultivate a new open-door policy. I want my children and grandchildren to know that they can always come home without an invitation. The door is always unlocked to those I love. My heart is wide-open to those who need a friend.
"Knock-Knock." "Come in, you're always welcome." .
We had an open-door policy in our home. Someone was always coming in or going out. Calling with a turn of the knob, "Knock, Knock," and answered from wherever we were, "Come on in." If anyone rang the doorbell or didn't say, "Knock, Knock," we knew it had to be someone we didn't know well. Somewhere along the way, the world became a scarier place and we started locking our doors.
Our family grew and we added a dining room with a big table and a big buffet. Mama always said she wanted everyone in the family to be able to sit together, even the little ones. The table was a place where we ate, talked and laughed and ate some more...and talked some more...and laughed some more. The buffet was always full. We always had more than enough. Sounds like this may be what home feels like in Heaven. God's children gathered together around His table. I'm sure there'll be more than enough.
My daughter gave me the greatest compliment one day. When she and her husband built their house, they wanted a large open space connecting the kitchen, the dining area and the family room. She said, "We always had people in our home when we were growing up. I want our home to be a place like that, a place where family and friends gather."
Life gets so busy. Too busy. As I look forward to slowing down, I want to cultivate a new open-door policy. I want my children and grandchildren to know that they can always come home without an invitation. The door is always unlocked to those I love. My heart is wide-open to those who need a friend.
"Knock-Knock." "Come in, you're always welcome." .
This is beautiful, my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of my childhood...
All together in my mom's bright yellow kitchen!
So happy you are blogging again. : )