A Place at Your Table

It didn’t matter if we were Christian, atheist, Hindu, or practiced witchcraft, you were happy to experience our company. It didn’t matter if we were red, blue, black, or white; you wanted to be friends. It didn’t matter if you knew if we smoked, drank, or did drugs; you let us in, and we were so honored to share that moment with you. It didn’t matter if we were alike or different; we came together.

   You let us in even when there wasn’t time to prepare. Before you could clean, before you got home sometimes, before you could vent out the weed. And we were that much more grateful that you would betray convention, opening your doors to us. You talked about your family and friends, your work and career, God and religion, politics and society. It was up to you, and we talked about EVERYTHING. 

   You didn’t ask us not to swear or curse. You didn’t care if we were happy with, angry at, or saddened by the world; you were there to listen.

   You didn’t care if we committed past wrongs, or if we were the most moral person you’d ever met. You cared about being in the moment we shared with you. You didn’t need us to impress, agree with, love, or give you anything; you showed us we were enough. You let us be ourselves, and weren’t there to change, exploit, advertise, or judge us.

   What joy to share these slices of time existing together in such a way! With that love with which you loved us, we go out into the world to give the one free gift that keeps on giving. We LOVE you, friends.