Meals together ....family....fellowship....

Meals and fellowship...through the years....

When I was growing up, we went to my grandparent's house every Sunday after church for dinner...we got together as an extended family for everyone's birthday....we all brought food of some kind....I remember one of my grandmothers always made homemade angel food cake with berry whip....mmmmmmgood....

The other grandmother fixed ham dinners...

We got together for holidays, not just thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, but Memorial day,  Veterans Day , Labor Day, the Fourth of July,  new years day. as well.

Then i went away to college, got married and the special days changed.  For awhile, we did get together with my husband's parents for Sunday meals..then we moved to a new city, and state to make our way in a new life.    I think missing those family get togethers was one of my biggest adjustments....I missed those close times, family times....

As our children came along, we had other families over for meals, Sundays  and other times. We visited our families over the years for special holidays

now I see my children hosting  people to their homes for meals, gathering together with others..

Fellowship....so important in our lives...in various forms....it binds people together, eating .....talking....laughing....remembering....traditions.....special foods...special places.   ....celebrating...living.....holding pieces of time...special memories....love....for one another....

in the Bible, down through the ages, it is recorded that  there feasts, festivals  for celebrations for many purposes ....they got together in "joy and celebration"

 Abraham, Isaac, Labon, David, Solomon ,

Esther 9:22

as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

Job 1:4

His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Ecclesiastes 10:19a

A feast is made for laughter,....

Luke 14:15

[ The Parable of the Great Banquet ] When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 15:23

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

The last supper, the wedding feast....all part of our lives.    

Thank you for preparing a table before us...thank you for celebrations, families who share fellowship....with one another....over the years....love....care...