Joy and Palm Trees
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider that it is in the simple, unplanned, yet meaningful moments that we often find the deepest forms of joy.
Joy is the serious business of heaven. The whole purpose of life is to live with joy and let that joy spill out into everything you do.
— C. S. Lewis
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Food for Thought
In my junior year of high school, my choral ensemble received an opportunity to travel to Disney World to sing. I had always wanted to go, as I had every Disney VHS you can imagine and memorized all of the Disney sing-a-longs. To me, going to Disney World was a dream come true. The trip was a whirlwind, and to tell you the truth, the only way I can truly remember I was there at all is by looking through the photos I took with my disposable camera. But the memories kept locked away in my long term memory always had this feeling of magic to them, and I knew I’d go back someday.
Fast forward 20+ years, I have a second grader of my own, and the school calendar gave us a whole week off for Thanksgiving. I thought, “Now might be the perfect moment!” We wouldn’t be battling the blistering heat of the summer, and maybe it wouldn’t be as crowded with it being a holiday week. Eventually, I got my husband to begrudgingly agree to brave the Disney adventure with me, so I began planning.
I researched all the best attractions and best places to eat. I called sisters, friends, and friends of friends who knew all the ins and outs. I exhausted myself trying to learn the rules for lightning lanes and how to make the most of each day. I mapped out plan a, plan b, and plan c — nobody quite prepared me for how overwhelming it all is. Eventually the day arrived, and off we went! Eleven hours of driving, one overnight stop, and we were there!
As we approached the entrance, you could see large pictures of Minnie and Mickey, and a sign that read “Walt Disney World… the most magical place on earth.” I called out to my daughter so she could take it in, too — “Look at that," I said, "we are HERE! Isn’t it amazing!” She looked up, her eyes got bright, the biggest smile stretched across her face, and then she said with so much joy in her little voice, “Wooow mom, look, they have palm trees!”
I just had to laugh at myself a little. All the planning, all the ways I had tried to orchestrate the “magical moments” for her, and it was the palm trees that first wowed her. That moment was a gentle reminder that sometimes the moments of joy we hope for, or the little bits of magic we seek, aren’t always in what we plan, but instead find us in unexpected ways.
All too often it’s our own expectations for how we believe something should or shouldn’t be, or the way we think something should turn out — whether that be in our careers, in relationships, in communities, or in a short holiday vacation — that can get in our own way of seeing and living in the joys taking place all around us. We keep our heads down, pushing forward (plan in hand), and forget to look up and see the beautiful palm trees that are right in front of us.
In the story of Jesus, there were many hopes and expectations for a savior that had been promised and long-awaited. Many believed that he would come with great fanfare — a powerful Messiah who would overthrow their oppressors and bring freedom. They anticipated a king, perhaps born in a palace to noble parents. Instead, Jesus was born in a humble stable to a young, unmarried couple, surrounded not by dignitaries and warriors, but by shepherds and animals. Clouded by expectation of what was to come, many completely missed the fulfillment of God’s promise happening right in front of them — the arrival of hope, peace, joy and love born into the world in a tiny newborn package.
During the Christmas season, the pressure to create the "perfect" holiday, to make everything look just right, or to meet certain social or familial expectations can sometimes get in the way of seeing the simple beauty that Christmas brings. This year, I encourage you to hold the reins loosely. Instead of being tied to expectations of what this holiday should look like, allow room for the unexpected. Give yourself permission to be in the moment so that you can look up and see the joy that might be right in front of you.
Try to lessen the pressure to overspend — in money and in energy — this holiday season. Maybe host a “Surprise Christmas Joy Exchange” where each person brings one small, unexpected gift — it could be something homemade, a handwritten note, a funny drawing, or a random act of kindness like offering to help someone with a task, a song, or an encouraging or uplifting word.
The holidays are upon us and maybe you are finding yourself slightly nervous. It can be hard to know how to navigate or approach all that might divide us if brought up in conversation. To help our readers navigate this season, our team created a short resource to provide you with Five Things to Remember When Setting a Welcome Table for the Holidays! We hope it will help you set a welcoming space before your guests even arrive!
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
God of Joy,
Help us to let go of the pressure to make everything perfect. Allow us to embrace the unexpected with open hearts and eyes ready to see your grace. May we recognize your presence in every moment, and may we offer our gratitude for the hope, love, peace, and joy you bring in surprising ways.
Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
How can the story of Jesus' humble birth help us better appreciate the simple, often overlooked, meaningful moments in our lives?
In what ways does the pressure to create the "perfect" holiday impact our ability to truly experience the joy and peace of Christmas? How can we overcome these pressures?
What does it mean to "hold the reins loosely" during the holiday season, and how might this mindset change the way we approach family, traditions, and our own personal well-being?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Why do you think Jesus was born in a stable instead of a fancy palace? What does that tell us about what is important to God?
What do you think would happen if we focused more on having fun and spending time together, instead of trying to make everything perfect for Christmas?
Can you think of a time when something unexpected turned out to be really special or exciting? What happened?
Meet This Week’s Writer!
Kendall Grubb is the CEO and one of the Co-Founders of The Welcome Table. She, her husband, and their daughter are a military family who calls Nashville, TN home. Earning degrees in music and business administration from Belmont University, she jumps at any opportunity she gets to create something new and help bring it to life. From writing and performing music to leading TWT, she loves the power that song and story have to connect people from all walks of life!
To hear more from Kendall throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!