grateful hearts gather here
The table is more than just a place to eat a meal. It’s where stories unfold, where ideas are shared, and where both laughter and silence can coexist. At the table, hearts can soften, wounds can begin to heal, and abundance can be cultivated. For some, the idea of a seat at the table is not an open invitation; rather, it is a fight for inclusion that leaves many standing in the margins even after continuous advocating just for the opportunity to be seen.
Therein lies an opportunity for radical welcome: to provide a space where shared humanity can be nourished along with the meal itself. Who is here? Who is missing? How can the table be expanded beyond thought, but also in action. Abundance is shared, not hoarded.
If the table is the vehicle, then food is the bridge between community + connection. A shared meal is so much more than nourishment, it’s a sacred opportunity to witness one another in a way that words are not always able to convey. We get to re-appreciate the beauty of each person’s story, unique gifts, and purpose. It’s where grateful hearts can gather to celebrate, to cherish, and to be reminded of the importance of coming together in community.
There’s something special about sitting together at a table in spite of differences. Food reminds us that before we can become divided, we need food and we need each other. When we gather around food, it asks us to pause in gratitude for the meal, the people around us, memories shared together, and the hands that prepared the meal and set the table. In that pause, we can be reminded of what we have.
Colossians 3:15 NIV reads,
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Beyond maintaining personal peace, Paul writes to the Colossians to remind us of the importance of our relationships. As social creatures, humans were not meant to walk in this life alone. We’re meant to support + care for one another. Time may go on + life may change. And yet, when we’re able to come together and center in gratitude, we also tap into the deep well of abundance that lies within us. \
Instead of dwelling on who is absent, we can celebrate who is present. Rather than grieving over loss, we can honor what remains. And instead of holding on to disappointment, we can embrace the beauty of what was and what is still yet to come.
It’s easy to slip into expectations: what we think relationships should look like, what we believe people should give, or even what we wish could have been different. However, when we shift our focus from what is lacking to what has been given, we begin to see the people in our lives with fresh eyes. Not for what they didn’t do or couldn’t offer, but for the moments they showed up, the ways they loved, and the gifts they continue to carry.
Gratitude allows us to hold space for people—not just for where they’ve been, but for where they are now and who they are becoming. This doesn’t mean ignoring past hurts or unmet expectations, but rather choosing to see the full picture: the love that was shared, the lessons learned, and the ways in which each interaction shaped us.
Just as life moves us in different directions, it also offers opportunities to come back together. Sometimes, reconciliation looks like rekindling a relationship. Other times, it’s an internal process of letting go of resentment + replacing it with peace. Either way, it requires an open heart—one that is willing to recognize both the wounds + the wisdom that come from every relationship.
Holding space for people doesn’t mean excusing harm or minimizing pain. It means acknowledging the reality of the past while keeping faith in the possibility of renewal. It means believing in another person’s potential, even when they may not see it themselves. It means offering grace, just as Jesus so effortlessly offers it to us and our loved ones so loyally extend to us.
Food represents God’s provision + it is a physical manifestation of abundance, reminding us that we are cared for. Afterall, when Jesus chose to break bread with those who would deny and betray Him over the Last Supper and yet still offered love, forgiveness, and grace…He showed us the true extent of His love for us.
When grateful hearts gather—whether in the same room or simply in spirit—there is always space for love, understanding, and grace. We are all walking our own journeys, but the gift of faith reminds us that we are never truly alone. And in that, there is deep peace.
May we hold space for those who have been a part of our journey. May we cherish the love we’ve received, no matter the form it took. And may we always keep the door open for healing, for reconnection, and for the boundless grace of Christ to fill the spaces between us.
Because when we restore, we renew.
If you’re ready to gather in gratitude, you can schedule a 1:1 complimentary consultation here.
Kim Yamasaki is a Christian wellness coach who supports her clients in cultivating space + stillness in the mind, body, and home through collaborative processes of co-creation. She provides services that create space + stillness for deeper connection: coaching, home organizing, and yoga. Her methods are affirming, grounding, and nurturing – all interlaced with playful creativity. She is a native Angeleno with Japanese and Chinese roots.
This article was originally published for the “selah space” newsletter, reclaiming abundance’s care package for go-getters that is released on a monthly basis. “Selah space” offers content to support readers looking to for greater balance by living, loving, and learning deeply to be their most calm, confident, and complete selves. In the Bible, selah means “to pause or to reflect.” It appears most heavily in the Book of Psalms and Habakkuk as musical notations at the end of verses to draw attention back to what was previously expressed.