31 days of Doing the Hard Thing: Gathering and Being

I’m in a small group of women that have been meeting together once a month for about 5 years.  Actually, they’ve been meeting together longer, but I somehow weaseled my way in about 5 years ago.  We’ve done bible studies, IF gatherings, book studies…we’ve washed feet and served at the Operation Christmas Child processing plant each year.  We’ve prayed each other through miscarriages, foster care, the death of way too many parents and loved ones, health crises, marriage issues, parenting issues, job issues, family issues, friend issues and more.

While book studies and bible studies have typically been our norm, we recently changed pace.  Instead it’s just a time to gather.  The majority of our children are school aged now, and with the pace of life that brings it’s wonderful to instead of having another place we have to DO something for, to instead have a place where we can just BE.  To talk, catch up, be prayed for, share our hearts and be encouraged.

This last time we gathered our gracious (patient, and oh-so-talented decorator) leader had the idea to just BE around a table…with salad.  We all pitched in bringing different lettuces, toppings and breads.

Her home is a sanctuary to most of us, and we all feel a little lighter and breathe a sigh of relief when we walk in.  It starts on her warm, inviting and cozy porch (that includes a swing AND a daybed), and continues as you walk through the robin’s egg blue door and onto the century old wood floors.  The table was simple and yet like her home, warm, inviting, and well styled.

I mixed spinach, romaine, and red leaf lettuce as my base, and added strawberries, apples, sweet and spicy pecans, cranberries, bacon, chicken and feta.  With a balsamic dressing I had made (balsamic, EVOO, dijon, shake).

We all pitched in and brought things.  We have a couple people in our group that are gluten free, and then a couple more health conscious with what they eat (cough, cough, hand raised), so a salad fit in perfectly.  I brought gluten free sage and honey cornbread with honey butter, Udi’s baguettes (which are gluten free, and SO good!), fig jam and goat cheese, feta, and cage free/antibiotic and hormone free grilled chicken. Plus a sweet and then a savory balsamic dressing.  There were also several different types of cheeses and dressings, bacon, pecans, cranberries, apples, veggies, and cookies.

There isn’t much that makes me happier than sitting around a table with people I care about.  It was great to laugh, listen, be heard, grieve and rejoice together.  I think we all need that space…no matter our age.  I want to be intentional about giving my family, my friends, neighbors and strangers that opportunity.  Sometimes as important as it is though, it seems really HARD to actually do.

I think we often put too many expectations on ourselves on what this needs to look like.  People don’t want fancy and perfect, they want inviting and comfortable. Maybe try just ordering pizza in and sitting around a table with your family this weekend and ask intentional questions.  Grab some friends after the game and head to a restaurant this weekend and leave your phones in the car.  Bring a picnic (store bought, if needed!) to church and invite some new friends along.  Just be open.  And GATHER.

Sometimes taking a step out of routine is Doing the Hard Thing.  Maybe inviting people in (or out) is Doing the Hard Thing.  Either way, I would encourage you to Do the Hard Thing and gather with people intentionally this weekend.  Make time for it, and be purposeful with it. Enjoy just being, and giving others the space to do the same.

This post is part of the #write31days challenge hosted by The Nester.

Click here to read all the posts in the 31 days of Doing the Hard Thing series.

Click here to see some of the other contributors in this challenge.