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This article is from Today's
Native Father, issue #138, May/June, 2005. Related articles from this issue: |
My Dining Room, a Place of Beauty A letter to mothers by Ilva Hertzler |
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Dear Mothers, Years ago I remember reading about having a place for beauty in your home. No matter how small, how poor, how full your house is, protect an area for beauty. I’ve thought about that often and tried to follow that advice. The area of beauty that I’ve tried to maintain is my dining room table. It is a lovely solid oak table which can stretch out to seat 17 people. We got the table with some money that was given to us for our 25th wedding anniversary. This was organized by daughter April and friend Verna and probably others. That’s another story to tell sometime. A friend who helped Hubby to carry it into our house gasped, “This is a serious table!” I’ve attempted to take good care of it and to keep that area pretty. I use a lace tablecloth and have a candle burning sometimes. But keeping it as a place of beauty seems to be a lost cause. You should see what is on it right now. There are several books of various titles, memos, 4 pens, my Bible, 2 day timers, my journal, papers from a recent ladies’ retreat, some pamphlets about raising small children. I haven’t mentioned everything. Oh, yes! There is a candle there somewhere. Since I’m recovering from the flu, I also have a box of tissues. Talk about beauty?! I used to get quite frustrated about my “place of beauty.” Why can’t this table stay uncluttered?! But over the years I’ve noticed that there are many kinds of beauty that my table displays. This is where I sit in harmony with my husband, eating our meals together. It’s also where we have resolved differences between us. I often spread out my Bible and reading materials for my quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes they stay there until Hubby comes home from work. This is where I spend wonderful times with friends and family, sipping coffee, talking, laughing and yes, crying. This is where I often sit when chatting on the phone with friends. This is where the mail lands, the grocery store fliers, the newspaper and magazines. Sometimes I’ll find a note of love among all the stuff. Where else would I study to do my up-grading courses? I’ve sat there many hours addressing Christmas letters to friends and family over the years. My table is a handy place to fold fresh, clean laundry and to cut out a dress for granddaughter or myself. This is where Hubby works on the taxes as he shoves the table cloth back to get a hard surface to write on. And it’s the perfect place for him to work at his laptop computer, listening to sports online while he is writing. When the grandchildren come, it turns into a glorious mess above and below It’s a place to sit and gaze out across the lake at all its changing beauty, to enjoy the birds coming to our feeder, to marvel at the cloud formations that whisk across the horizon. Sometimes I’ve come home to a lovely surprise of fresh cookies or some other treat. Where is it? On my table, of course. Because my house is rather small, my table is “the place” for playing games when friends come for the evening. Sometimes there are three games going at the same time. So doesn’t this all sound like a special kind of beauty? Beauty of home, friendship, love, service? By the grace of God, I’m very thankful it has not been a place for booze parties, or gambling or other destructive activities. I’m thankful it is still intact and has not been destroyed by physical violence. Some day I will leave it behind when I take my final journey. But for now I want to use this table for beauty. May many more people come to my house and enjoy my table, not because of it, but because of who lives here and the peace that is here. A thing of beauty and a joy forever, Ilva ny of these children can thrive and make a positive contribution to their world. |
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