“All great change starts at the dinner table.” Ronald Reagan

Today we had a big gathering

Today we had a gathering at our house to allow others a chance to say goodbye to our son who is about to deploy. I asked my son what he would like to eat, so naturally he chose one of his favorite dishes at our house. Some call them “Funeral Potatoes” we call it “Sunday Casserole.”  It is a savory dish with hash brown potatoes, lots of cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup and the topping? Corn flakes with melted butter on top. The dish is baked until the cheese is bubbly and the corn flakes are super crunchy. It is quite good. As you can imagine, it is filled with fat. What I didn’t take into account? I was feeding a small crowd.

The cooking fest began

We rushed home from church and I got to cooking. I made 2 huge pans of Sunday Casserole and a pot of green beans and ham. I had bought disposable pans for the casseroles, but I forgot to get paper plates, cups and utensils. Darn it! I thought. I had to pull out the plates, cups and silverware. Years ago we decided to not let Grandmother’s China sit in a cabinet. We were going to use it. I brought out the blue willow, the silver ware and the Wexford glasses that my husband’s mother had gifted us many years ago. 

My attitude started to fall

When I looked at the pile of almost 20 plates, I thought I was going to be doing dishes all evening. As the guests came in, I caught myself in my bad attitude. A thought came to mind as the people sat around the table enjoying the food, fellowship and the opportunity to tell our son goodbye. What was that thought? First, I thought there was a table surrounded with people eating off of Grandmother Burgess’ Blue Willow plates, and she must be undoubtedly smiling down from heaven. You see, she used to put out a mean spread well into her 90s. Fried chicken, green beans from her garden that she still tended, biscuits that tasted like heaven. In other words, a proper old southern lady meal. 

The Blue Willow lesson lived on

Even though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on. Not just hers but Granddaddy Burgess, the sweetest Methodist minister that ever lived. He helped tend that garden. As people sipped from the cups I thought of my husband’s late mother. She too would have a big smile plastered across her face knowing that her family was enjoying her gift of Wexford glasses. It was a moment of true joy. 

Fellowship was important to our loved ones

Fellowship was important to our loved ones that went before us. They didn’t have a lot of money but what they did have was love, good food and the ability to listen. I’ve written a lot lately about bringing ourselves back to a simpler time. We should touch some grass, put down the screen and love our neighbor. In my journey of Pensées, one theme keeps coming to the front of my mind. Our thoughts define us and our approach to life. This afternoon could have been plagued with a dread of cleaning up and the copious amounts of cooking. But the lessons of Grandmother Burgess and my husband’s late mother brought my mind back into focusing on thankfulness. 

Grandmother taught us to live on the Blue Willow Life Lesson

It was humbling to know that we are carrying on their legacy of sharing a simple meal and fellowship with loved ones. Ephesians 4:4 tells us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. How do we share a bond of peace? We cultivate love, listening, laughter, food, forgiveness and humility. Thank you Grandmother Burgess for the Blue Willow life lesson.