The Cool Kids Table

There’s nothing special about the table.
We’ve had it for quite a while.
Some of my own children used it.
It was the perfect size for little hands and feet.

The table is blue on the outside edges.
It is faux wood across the top, which makes it easy to wipe clean.
There are two chairs that came with the table.
There is a small pocket on each end of the table to hold pencils, crayons, or treasures.

I often teased that I would be very sad when my children outgrew Fisher Price toys.
The sets they played with when they were young are now being enjoyed by the next generation.
The table is now being used in a new way.
The table, with its two blue chairs, is now being used not for art but for meals.

With our growing family, even a large farm table has limits to the number of chairs around it.
We have often put two tables together for holidays, going from the dining room into the foyer.
One weekend, when everyone was home, the little table and chairs came downstairs.
The children loved playing at it, since it was just the right size for them.

I don’t know which one suggested it, but one of them asked if they could eat dinner there.
One of my sons deemed it, the cool kids table.
The name stuck.
It has been called the cool kids table ever since.

I had to purchase two more chairs.
Of course, they had to be blue to match the others.
However, identical chairs could not be found.
Four of the six grandchildren love to sit there.

The two youngest are in a booster seat and high chair right now.
The dilemma is what we will do when the fifth grandchild graduates to the cool kids table.
There’s only four sides to a table.
Since they’re so close in age, some decision has to be made.

We celebrated the two-year-old’s birthday this weekend.
Her actual birthday was a few weeks ago; almost everyone was home to celebrate again.
Four chairs at the island accommodates the older children as we light candles and sing.
However, the birthday girl needed to be there, too.

She sat at the island, delighted to be so high up and with the older ones.
Her mommy was right next to her.
The little four-year-old didn’t have her usual seat.
Her two-year-old brother climbed up before her.

My husband had the brilliant idea of placing the tall seat of the high chair at the island.
He pulled it over to the island so our grandson could sit there.
He was thrilled with the arrangement.
The seven-month-old baby was in someone’s arms.

My husband asked the question that begged to be answered.
What will we do when there are more grandchildren?
Will we have to get another cool kids table?
Will the older grandchildren graduate to the main table and sit with the grownups?

The same dilemma happens at the swing set my husband built.
There are three swings, one slide, and one rope ladder.
A regular swing can be switched to a trapeze bar or baby swing.
Someone is inevitably left out or has to wait.

It’s good to learn to share.
It’s good to wait your turn.
However, for children it’s not always an easy lesson.
If truth be told, it’s not an easy lesson for grownups either.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

We expect the best seat, the closest view, and the first place in line.
It is hard to wait, even when we know better.
It is hard to be left out and feel as if we are on the periphery.
So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Matthew 20:16)

Such a hard concept and not just for children.

One day, there will be a Wedding Feast.
Jesus will be there.
We, with our glorified bodies, and He with the visible scars still in His hands.
He will be serving us.

The ultimate cool kids table with seats for everyone.
There is always room for those, who are in Christ, to feast with Him.
I imagine the table being so long that it seems to go on endlessly.
We will sit, and feast, and talk, and praise our Host, the Lord Jesus.

That is one table where I long to sit.

This wonderful piece of art was drawn by the talented, Will Kelly. Will Kelly is the illustrator of my upcoming children’s book, to be published by Calla Press Publishing. Will’s poster art always reminds me of the anticipated Wedding Feast…the ultimate cool kids table.
@willkellydraws
@callapresspub

 

2 responses to “The Cool Kids Table”

1. I look forward to that feast too, maybe one of many. Imagine eating with the King!’

   When my family grew to include grands, we added card tables in the living room. Then they could be taken down when not needed. Is this an idea or you?
   Miss seeing you, Gina!

   Reply

   • Sue,
     To think that we will fellowship for all eternity with Jesus and with each other. Thanks for the suggestion of the card table. It is a good one.
     Gina

     Reply