Yesterday I had the thought that I should invite someone over for dinner. I wasn’t too thrilled at the prospect since I was scrapping the bottom of the barrel-I haven’t restocked the fridge lately. Spaghetti with no bread or fruit, and a salad consisting entirely of lettuce. Not the kind of meal you are eager to share with others. I hadn’t talked with this person in awhile and knew they had experienced some hard things recently, so when I couldn’t shake the thought, I went ahead and invited them to our less than ideal dinner.
I’m so glad I did. We were able to talk with each other, and I was able to offer her support and compassion. That was the real point of the dinner, the essence of what she needed-the company. The “gift” wasn’t the mediocre dinner, but the time spent talking together. Too often we get overly concerned in the wrapping of our “gifts.” We focus so much on the exterior things surrounding our opportunities to really give people what they need, that we completely lose sight of the real gift. Sure, not having to make dinner is nice, but talking with a friend is what we really need most of the time! It helps us feel like people care about us, that we have someone who will listen, in essence, that we aren’t alone. Knowing that makes all the difference in the world.
Work In Progress 