The Board Is Spread

Thanksgiving is come. The board is spread.

Thanks be to God who gives us bread.

Praise God for bread.

Since Ed and I will be hosting Thanksgiving at Cedar Bluff this year, I dug out this photo of what the table looked like two years ago when we last hosted the big meal. When I look at this photo, my mind starts singing the old camp table grace song which starts out with "morning is come, the board is spread." 

About this time, a week ahead, I could get pretty frazzled over the details of any special meal, let alone Thanksgiving. Are the groceries bought? Who is doing the turkey? How many places to set? When should the appetizers be set out? Which tablecloth?

Surely details deserve attention. Good food does come from good planning. But Thanksgiving is more than place settings and platters.

Thanksgiving is about gathering. It's a time of collecting the best and the worst of the year, and still being thankful for life's blessings. In a setting of family and friends, the turkey can be dry, the potatoes less than fluffy and the pies can disappear too soon. What will matter is that we will be together, the board will be spread, and we will give thanks. Again.

Copyright 2011

Wanda Hayes Eichler