Think Write Thursday {A Pretend Afternoon Gathering of Girls}

The email for Think Write Thursday hit my inbox and here’s what it said.

{linking up with Carole}

This week’s topic is………….

to plan a dinner party, inviting THREE people, living or dead.  ….insert my thought here...{Although it would probably be easier for them to attend if they aren’t, well, dead.} 😉

tell us: who you will invite?

how will you invite them?

what will you serve?

fancy or casual?

what will the topics of conversation be?

These were the questions to jump-start us.

NOW.

I could have gone a lot of directions with this.

Here’s a few of the thoughts that started flying around my brain as I skimmed the message and re-read the questions.

IF, you really could have anyone over from any point in time, who would you have?

Jesus was one of my first thoughts. Naturally. As a Christian, that only makes sense. And I thought of the apostle Paul. As I mentioned in this post, I’ve been mourning him anyway. Perhaps I should have him over for dinner.

I thought of more Bible characters.

The Queen of Sheba.

Ruth, Esther and Abigail would be such fun guests!

Perhaps Lois and Eunice? I love the recommendation their faith gets.

Mary, Jesus’ mother. I’ve asked her questions in this poem.

If my husband and kids were going to be part of this party, that would make a difference. Maybe we’d ask Tim Hawkins and his family. Or Buddy Davis. Or Whit from Whit’s End in Odyssey.

What about real life friends?

{names changed to respect my friends’ privacy} 🙂

I could have Rebecca and Carissa and Charlotte.

I always have fun with Delaney and Michelle and Sylvie.

Abigail gets me and Jayne makes me laugh.

Then I thought about long-time blogs I’ve read. Big Mama. Boomama. Emily P. Freeman.

I thought about some friends I’ve “met” through Instagram.

FINALLY…………….

For fun I settled on who my three guests would be.

Here we go.

It’s written like it’s true. It’s not. It’s fictional, though the “guests” in it are very real!! And me. I’m real too. 😉

……………………………………………………………………………………………

My phone chirps. I glance at the screen and tap it to answer. It’s Jayne. She has a quick question and then inquires about how my morning is going. She knows I’m excited and have a few last-minute preps that always go along with inviting people in to gather in your home.

This is the first time for these friends to drop by. I’ve known them all for quite a while, though they don’t exactly know it! 🙂

They have encouraged me.

They’ve made me laugh.

They have inspired me.

They’ve told me to keep on with the keeping on.

They’ve been gentle voice and cheerleader.

They have become my friends and mentors, unaware as they may be. They showed up and did the hard work of writing and of putting themselves out there, and through their books, Bible studies and words, they have blessed my life. And I am grateful.

“There’s going to be laughter,” I say to Jayne. She says she’s excited for me and we end our call.

I turn back to my list of snacks.

I love a good afternoon with girls every so often. I’m planning to serve some salty snacks and some sweet ones. There’s going to be good conversation and Scripture and laughter and discussion.

We’ll have a casual, relaxed few hours.

I’m going to ask some questions and we’re going to pray us a fervent prayer and we’re going to talk a bit about a few of the things that can make it tough to be a woman. I think we’ll mention a donkey and we’ll share a few stories about the antics of children and grandchildren.

I pull out some plates and add my white teacups to the table. Red and white brightly flowered napkins find their spot and I lay sea salt caramels at each place.

I think about the conversation that I know is flowing as my three guests make their way from Texas to Kansas.

Three Texas gals.

Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Rachel Ann Ridge. 

I lick some queso off my finger as I finish spooning it into the dish. Stepping to the sink I rinse my hands and reflect on spending a few hours with these women. I give a little rejoice at the impact sharing story and words can make in someone else’s life. Don’t tell me it’s easy. Doing things you love and are passionate about never are. 

These three women have been vulnerable and shared their words and lives to encourage some other woman, somewhere.

I’ve curled on my couch and dug into the word of God and read their words and I’ve been encouraged. 

They should arrive soon. 

I peek in the fridge to make sure the rest of my dips are good to go. Salsa. Guac. Good Texas food…..I hope!

Raspberry Pie shows its glossy shine from the back of the refrigerator shelf as I pull lemons from the drawer to slice and place on our water glasses.

My red pitcher waits on the counter to be filled with sweet tea. 

I shove a few dirty dishes in the dishwasher and light the candle on the counter. 

Older women who have done more of this life thing than I have. Friends who are around my age and at my stage in life.  Younger women starting along paths I’ve been on. I appreciate them all. 

A gathering of girls. 

Good friends like Jayne who check in and cheer you on!

This spending time drawn together by common bonds. Conversation, laughter, good food and connectedness in Christ. 

I straighten the table runner just a bit and give a little thank-you to God for these special moments in my life!

………………………………………………………………………………………..

NOW………………………what would your dinner party look like?

 

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