Come Sit at Our Table Television networks offer reruns quite regularly. A dear lady asked me the other day if I remembered writing an article “sit at my table, or something like that? I thought for a minute and then I remembered this article that I share with you again. I hope it will challenge you. “Aunt” Mattie is one of many great people whom God put across my trail in this journey called life. She cleaned our house, cooked, ironed, and took care of my children. A great sense of humor and tons of common sense were two of her greatest assets. Moreover, “Aunt” Mattie was a Christian and modeled the love that disciples of Christ should have for all people. Her sweet servant spirit is why I loved her so dearly. One episode in our lives will illustrate what I mean. It was the first meal she prepared for my family. I had been visiting the hospitals during the morning and came home for the noon meal. “Aunt” Mattie had cleaned the house, washed and ironed the clothes, and prepared a scrumptious meal of sweet potatoes, fried chicken, okra, corn, salad, and all the rest. A meal set for a king! When we sat down to eat, I noticed that there were enough place settings for my family, but none for her. I asked “Aunt” Mattie why she had set the table as she had. In a meek and humble spirit she replied, “Well, Reverend, I’ll just sit in the kitchen.” I was overwhelmed with feelings of dismay, disgust, pity, and anger. The way the world was at that time came crashing down on my heart. I said to her, “Oh no, “Aunt” Mattie, you prepared this wonderful meal. Indeed, you went beyond anything I expected and you are going to sit with us at our table. You won’t be sitting in the kitchen in our home!” It was a bit uncomfortable for “Aunt” Mattie that day as I asked her to do something she had never done before, but I felt the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as she sat with our family and shared the dinner she had prepared. You see, “Aunt” Mattie was a dear black lady who had always “kept her place.” But I never accepted that prejudicial platitude. It was contrary to what I believed as a Christian. I had always believed what I learned at my parent’s knees and at Sunday School----“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” My commitment to the Christian faith has never allowed me to look upon myself as being superior to anyone. I explained very carefully that day to “Aunt” Mattie that I was not being condescending. . I wanted her to know I loved and appreciated her and that I was honored to have her sit with us at our table. This is why I have always told every church I pastored, “If all people are not truly welcome in our church, neither am I.” When Christ comes into our hearts, He fills us with His unconditional love, and this is why we can say sincerely, Come sit at our table.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:12:13 +0000
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