Spiritual gifts. We are told that everyone has at least one. There are tests out there to guide you in the right direction, other people can tell you what your gift is. Apparently, people pass out spiritual gifts! But for me, I have never known what my spiritual gift was.  I would always joke that anxiety and cattyness were spiritual gifts of mine because they came naturally and without notice. But in the last few months of brokenness, God has shown me so many things, and one of those has been what one of my spiritual gifts are…at least one of them, anyways.

I have always enjoyed entertaining, but never saw that as a spiritual gift.  Over Thanksgiving, my Nana hosted our family Thanksgiving. We normally fill in around her table and squeeze in elbow to elbow, all 27 of us. But this year, we had to move to her neighborhood community center because there were extra warm bodies coming to our Thanksgiving. Those that came were extended family, and friends. There were those invited without a family of their own to share in the food and fellowship that can only be found when sitting with others and sharing a meal.  It was at Thanksgiving that I realized I too have this knack for hosting and feeding stomachs and souls.

And since God sometimes needs to give me other examples to prove his point, in reading the Max Lucado book, “Outlive Your Life”, Chapter 6 is titled Open Your Door: Open Your Heart and it speaks to this very thing. Last night as I read in the coffee shop it hit me, that this in fact, could be my “spiritual gift”. The gift that was given by God, and shown to me by my sweet Grandmother.(It also helps that I’m a Southerner and hosting meals comes naturally…)

Acts 2:46 states, And they ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. And a verse that I have loved my whole life is Hebrews 13:2, Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

It makes sense though that my heart softens at feeding the homeless. That when words aren’t enough in dealing with tough times, a casserole dish seems to say it all. That I find most joy when I bring people together around my dining room table and enjoy extra helpings of food and fellowship. It’s how I communicate love.

As I was sharing this with a friend, she reminded me that the United Methodist Motto is: Open Minds. Open Hearts. Open Doors. Growing up United Methodist, I am embarrassed I didn’t remember this…but again, I go back to God, showing me over and over..and over and over the path that he has chosen for me. He is certainly up to something in me. I can feel it.

There is always room for you at my table. And at His.
ab