Well, we had our McMurray family dinner tonight, delicious food and a smorgasbord of desserts. Lot of cheerful laugher and happy conversations around the six dining tables. The children were so happy and full of Christmas excitement. It’s been another beautiful day. Was too excited myself to gaze at the sunset. I don’t even know what kind of sky canvas Father Sky painted today but I know it was wondrous.

We had a paddle ball tournament after our Christmas dinner. We called them bolo bouncers when I was little. My mother was the paddle ball champion at Wesleyan College bouncing her little ball over 300 times. My middle grandson scored 33 to win the twenty dollar bill. I couldn’t even get past four bounces. We laughed and counted the little ball whacks out loud. I bought some mustaches for our family photo shoot but the little ones enjoyed them so much we forgot to put them on for the photo. My little niece put several on her face, making eyebrows and a mustache, looked just like Charlie Chaplin as her dark eyes twinkled.

My company are all snug in their beds now. My grandchildren, in their bedroom, are sleeping sweetly, all snuggled down in their covers, worn out from playing with their cousins, breathing the happy sighs of contentment. My furnace is chugging away, set on 72 and happy to finally get a good days work in. It would probably be sad to be a steam boiler and never get a good boil going. My youngest son and I are used to the cold but I don’t want my company to be chilly.

Remember getting ready for school on cold days and standing in front of the fire place getting dressed for school. Daddy would turn the gas logs on and mama would have our school clothes laid out on the sofa to get ready for school. My brothers and I sat on that sofa tonight and we all felt our age when it was time to get up. We got tickled and had a good laugh as our children pulled us up. That sofa, bless its heart, has seen some good times.

I set places for our 43 family members for our Christmas dinner. I put Chief and Rosie’s place cards in the centerpiece of the dining room table. I’ll never stop being thankful and grateful for gathering around the dinner tables with those I love the most. We missed two of our sweet families who were dealing with sickness. Bible scripture says sharing a meal together strengthens relationships between God and man. Early churches gathered in homes to “break bread together” as a way to express fellowship in Christ.

Revelation 3:20 reads, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Proverbs 22:9 reads, “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” When we gather around the table with family we’re sharing more than a meal, we’re opening our hearts to the generosity of God’s love as we “break bread” together.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus shared meals with his disciples, with strangers, with crowds, and with sinners. He used these moments to share God’s love and forgiveness, building relationships as he spread God’s love. I love this verse in Hebrews and I think of it sometimes when I help a stranger. “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

Holiday meals give our families a sense of community and connection and strengthen our family bonds. Our holiday dishes and rituals become cherished memories that foster a sense of belonging. Most of my cherished memories of childhood are holiday dinners at my grandmother McMurray’s home. Would love to go back in time to a Christmas dinner at Mama Dorris’s house, seated at the dining room table, sharing the piano stool with my cousin Joe Boy. Those were glorious celebrations.

Life is truly what we make it. We can have sunny days even when there are storms blowing if we’ll just stop and be grateful for the many blessings we have. God gives us so many wondrous gifts and we just take them for granted not realizing the significance of the little moments that paint a glorious picture in our memories when we’re older. So many small moments go unobserved. The older I get, I’m more mindful of the little moments of happiness that God places in my life.

I was so happy to have my family coming for dinner tonight. My mama and daddy’s children, their grandchildren and great grandchildren, all gathered together in the home we grew up in, the home where my mother was born, where both my parents drew their last breath, sharing Christmas dinner with each other. Our family dinners are always full of laughter and love and memories that flow freely around the dinner tables. I thank God we are all happy and healthy this year. We McMurrays are truly blessed!

“It’s not what’s on the table that matters, it’s who’s in the chairs.” — Unknown