What to do when the House is Full?
Every year I have to participate in training for the classes I lead. It’s the same training every year and this will be my 5th year to attend the training! My class of 8th graders study Logic, Math, Exposition, Science, Latin, and History. The students study a Mock Trial, complete college level studies that integrate apologetics and even write their own short stories! Talk about an intimidating list of subjects! I am thankful that we are required to participate- I always feel equipped and ready to teach my students when we finish training every summer. Last summer, when I went to the training classes I saw familiar faces- friends and colleagues that I have worked with for a few years now. When I walked into the large gathering place, there was no room for me at their table. My heart sank. Have you ever walked into a gathering and there was no room for you? I immediately felt isolated and out of place. It certainly was not intentional, but it made me feel a little sad.
I wanted to sit at their table.
I wanted to be accepted.
I wanted to be part of the group.
Instead, I found myself in a room full of people, sitting at a table all alone.
Community
We call our homeschool style “Classical” and our days that we meet are called “Community”. Community is defined as 1) a unified body of individuals, 2) a social state or condition or 3) society at large. When I think about community, I think of our homeschool group. I think of our church, and I think of the small town I live in. A community is not just people in the same area! It is: relationships, family, support, accountability, encouragement, communications, interdependence and so much more! It is a vital part of human life!
True Friends
It wasn’t long before my friends invited me to join them at their already overcrowded table. But it was long enough for God to stir this thought in my heart about belonging and I declined my friends invitation to join their table. I had come into the room looking for my group, for my “people”, but now I just wanted to sit and think about what God was trying to tell me in that moment.
Belonging
Don’t we all want to be accepted, to be part of something? To feel like we belong?
When I searched the Bible, I was amazed at how many verses there are with “belong” in them!
- Psalms 24:1 (NCV)The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it— the world and all its people.
- Psalms 30:4 (NCV)Sing praises to the Lord, you who belong to him; praise his holy name.
- Psalms 85:10 (NCV)Love and truth belong to God’s people; goodness and peace will be theirs.
- 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NCV)Lord, you are great and powerful. You have glory, victory, and honor. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. The kingdom belongs to you, Lord; you are the ruler over everything.
- Matthew 19:14 (NCV)but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children.”
There were so many verses! And I was so encouraged by what I read- we don’t belong to this world. We don’t belong to each other. We don’t even belong to a family or even to a church. We belong to HIM! We belong to God! The King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s says we belong to Him! And He has a seat at His table for you friend!
What does it all mean?
I think what God was trying to show me in all of this is how important it is for us to include others. Be the one who reaches out to the girl sitting by herself, or the new person. Speak to the person ringing up your purchase at the store or your server at the restaurant. We carry the love of God with us everywhere we go, not just inside the walls of the church. I pray that I do that well. I pray that God keeps reminding me that so many people feel alone, left out, or rejected and it is our responsibility to reach out to others to share God’s love.
My prayer for you today, dear friend, is that if this spoke to your heart- if you’ve ever felt like there wasn’t room for you at the table, that you will see that God has a place for you at HIS table. You are so loved and He has everything you need! I pray that HIS ‘River of Love’ will flow through us all so that ALL may know Him! If you want to know more about Jesus, leave a comment and I will be happy to message you privately!
