Y’all, I might be a little sad … this is the last week of my “What if … 10 ways to live well in today’s world” series.” I cannot begin to tell you how much I have been encouraged by your comments and emails. What a gift this little community is to me! Thank you for helping me on my journey to live well and for the honor of encouraging you as you do the same!!
Just in case you missed any of the previous posts, here they are:
- What if we do something instead of everything?
- What if we embrace good enough?
- What if we take a nap?
- What if we choose to be content?
- What if we pursue our passions?
- What if we give ourselves grace?
- What if we take off the masks?
- What if we mess everything up?
- What if we laugh more?
Today’s post is probably my favorite … because I KNOW how much this one thing matters in the quest for living well.
What if we invite others to our sticky tables?
A few years ago I read this great quote by Anna Quindlan, “The great motherhood friendships are the ones in which two women can admit how difficult mothering is quietly to each other, over cups of tea at a sticky table with spilled apple juice and littered with markers without tops.”
And I thought, yes! We mommas need people to gather at our sticky tables!
But the truth is, we need sticky tables in every area of our lives.We were created for relationship—first with God and then with others. Our busy culture leaves little room for genuine connection. We have friends at the ball fields and friends at work and friends at church and friends at the gym and all those friends on Facebook … but somehow in the middle of all these people, we are missing true community.
I don’t know about you but sometimes I really start to believe I’m alone. I don’t see the truth of how others are struggling in their lives or facing their own challenges. I forget my friends have their own doubts and insecurities. I pull in instead of reaching out. Do you do that?
A couple of years ago, I led an (in)couragers groups, Parenting Teens and Thriving. One of my favorite parts of this group was the way when one person shared a difficult situation so many other moms were quick to say, “Me too!” The thing is, it takes courage to be the one to say, “I’m having a hard time right now” or “I really don’t know what to do” or “I just need a friend.”
A big part of learning to live well is being willing to invite others into our lives. God created us for fellowship with Him and with others. And, as believers, we are admonished to come alongside each other in all situations, whether good or bad.
Paul exhorts us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15
I once did a group Bible study about learning to listen to truth over lies in our lives. As we were talking about what lies we believe, the core of most of them was simply this: I’m not good enough. The sweetest moments of group discussions were encouraging one another and pointing each other back to the truth. Left to myself, I can get lost in the lies of the enemy. Having friends I can share honestly with helps refocus me on truth.
I need that. And I’m guessing you might need that too.
So go ahead, invite someone to pull a chair up to the sticky table in your life! You might be surprised how much joy you find in doing so.
xo,
Teri Lynne
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