Full and Rich

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will

prepare a feast of rich food

for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—

the best of meats and the finest of wines.

 —Isaiah 25:6

Who remembers the game show, The Price is Right? I used to love the opening when Bob Barker entered the studio. As he walked through the audience, he would point at someone dressed in an outrageous costume and make an offer like, “If you have a hard-boiled egg in your purse, I’ll give you one-hundred dollars.” Or maybe he’d ask for a screwdriver or a hair roller. Every so often, an audience member would produce the requested item and then scream with joy when Barker handed her a crisp C-note.

On Easter, I identified with the overwhelming sense of joy those lucky winners felt. I didn’t scream out loud, but my heart was bursting. And while no one handed me a 100-dollar bill, I felt like the richest woman on earth.

Greg and I had invited twelve people to join us for Easter dinner. Seventeen accepted. I know, the math doesn’t work, but word got out and additional people asked to attend. What a gift to have friends comfortable enough to ask if they could be included at our table! Two of the original twelve were booked on a late flight overseas, but instead of declining our invitation for dinner, they asked if they could come over just for the appetizers. What an honor to have friends who want to spend whatever time they have with us.

Knowing our dining room table wasn’t large enough to accommodate the overflow, Greg decided to build an extension that could attach to the end and extend into the living room. This was a huge undertaking, but one he enjoyed. As I watched him measure and construct, I thought, What a blessing to have a husband who willingly creates space for hospitality.

As I set the table for fifteen, I marveled at having enough place settings. Several years ago, a distant cousin of Greg’s, who once spent a weekend with us, found additional pieces of our china at a thrift store—so she bought them all and shipped them to us. Likewise, we once owned just twelve crystal water glasses, but during a previous dinner party one of our guests noted that she possessed the same pattern and gave us all her crystal glasses. With some easter chocolates, fluffy Chenille chicks, and folded bunny napkins, my Easter table was shaping into a lovely, inviting space that coordinated perfectly.

With the scent of ham and herbs filling the house, our guests began to arrive. Each brought a dish to pass, and several showed up with hostess gifts wrapped in pretty bags with colorful bows. One friend brought me a family recipe. Another, a pound of quality butter (because she knows I appreciate good baking ingredients). Another gifted me with a wine pourer shaped like a bird that tweeted when tipped. And several showed up with extraordinary bottles of wine. In a Biblical sense, they came bearing their first fruits, the cream of the crop—the best they could offer.

After a long, delicious meal (with incredible wine, deep conversation, and delectable desserts), my friends got up and started clearing plates, washing dishes, and putting food away. I didn’t ask for help—they just did it. Then, because many of our guests were members of my former worship band, we gathered in the living room to sing praise music. Out came the guitars and the cajón as requests were made. Blessed Be Your Name. King of Kings. Jesus, Messiah. O Praise the Name. Even with a slightly out-of-tune piano, the harmonies were wonderful and the Spirit of God was palpable.

It was late when someone finally called it a night. As I watched my guests gather their belongings and hug each other goodbye, I was overcome with joy. Though not related by blood, I consider each person family. By his death and resurrection, Jesus had grafted us together into his body as brothers and sisters in Christ. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Easter serves as a reminder of God’s deep love for us and, in turn, reminds us to love others well. It is through love that we experience the presence of God in this world that prepares us for eternal fellowship around the table of the Lord. “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29).

My beloved friends had entered my home with joy, bearing gifts that reflected our precious friendship, and they left with smiles on their faces, doggie bags in their hands, and full stomachs. We had feasted and loved well. And I, for one, was feeling very, very rich.

SHARING AN APPROPRIATE SONG: Come to the Table by Sidewalk Prophets

Favorite lyric: Love opened the door for us. He said, “Come to the table.”