I recently read Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table by Shauna Niequist. While I have been a big fan of Shauna’s books, this one is the one that really made me think. It made me consider what I have going on around the table. I realized that my table life is both a little sad and a little blessed. It is sad because my friends and I never spend time there. We have never been the ‘gathering around the table’ sort (and I think I might actually be the only one with a table big enough to accomplish this). That makes me sad because I long for summer gatherings and pot lucks. It’s the kind of life I always wished I had. But I am also blessed, because every night, I get to sit at the table with my family. I can lean to my left and give my baby girl a kiss or to my right and hug my slightly older baby girl. I can listen to them bicker and play with each other. I can hear about their school days or the newest plot to ‘Shake It Up’. I love those moments. But I do wish for more gatherings, more friends, more family. As Shauna states in her book, we should "stop running from thing to thing to thing, and to sit down at the table, to offer the people you love something humble and nourishing...". Just the very idea sounds warm and inviting and promising of good times and laughter. As usual, Shauna uses eloquent words to invite you in to her own table with the promise of food and comfort. She involves you in intimate stories while nourishing your soul and mind. I highly recommend this book (as well as her other two – Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines). They are each like a breath of fresh, faithful air.
P.S. Make sure to try out some of the recipes, they are superb!
