Choosing A Table

It was a Grandma Day.
I like to have one-on-one time with my grandchildren.
This day was the first Grandma Day for a special little almost two-and-a-half-year-old.
It was a big deal to her to go in Grandma’s car all by herself.

I told my daughter that I would be over at 9:30am.
I planned to take this little sweetheart to a coffee shop to get her favorite doughnut.
Then, I planned to take her shopping for one special thing (her choice) and a new dress.
I think I was as excited as she was for our time together.

When I arrived, she was sitting on the front porch steps.
Her Mommy, Daddy, sister, and brother were there as well.
She was waving furiously as I pulled into the driveway.
As soon as the car stopped, and I undid my seat belt, she came running to me.

She grabbed my legs and hugged.
Are you excited to have a Grandma Day? I asked her.
Yes! She squealed as she jumped up and clapped her hands together.
My daughter had a bag with extra clothes and essentials.

This little lady is now potty trained, so I knew I would have to be aware of all the cues.
Oh, the memories.
I remember knowing that I only had about two hours before a bathroom would be needed.
I had a portable potty in the back of my minivan, just in case.

We drove to the coffee shop, listening to some of her favorite music.
Teddy and blanket, who go everywhere with her, were right by her side.
I could see her in my rear view mirror, smiling and looking at all the scenery.
We reached the coffee shop and she climbed down from her car seat like a big girl.

She grabbed my hand as we walked in the parking lot.
She walked with a bounce to her step.
She was a big girl and she knew it.
She had Grandma all to herself.

We got inside and walked up to the counter.
She put her hands in the air to be lifted up so she could see the donuts in the glass case.
There were other pastries and scones, but a doughnut was her choice.
Pink with sprinkles, was what she told me, but when we got there, she changed her mind.

She picked a blueberry doughnut with lavender icing.
She also wanted milk.
I ordered hot chocolate with my favorite scone.
Calories are not counted when it is a Grandma Day.

Can you pick the table for Grandma? I asked.
Without hesitation, she walked in front of me.
The coffee shop looks like a farmhouse, with beamed ceilings.
People meet friends there or come by themselves to do work.

Tables ares set up for two, or four, or more if some are put together.
There are comfy chairs by a fireplace and two wing chairs near a window.
She had her pick, but chose a table for four.
This one, she said quite sure of herself.

She pulled out a chair.
Grandma, sit next to me, she said pointing to the chair.
The two seats across from us were empty.
My purse and her bag of essentials were on the table.

I have often wondered why we choose a certain seat over another one?
Why do we choose this parking space over that one?
Why do we pick this checkout lane rather than the one next to it?
Is there a method to our choosing?

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:1-10)

My granddaughter chose our table.
She happened to choose one that was right next to a woman working on her laptop.
Of all the seats we could choose! I said to the woman with a smile.
Oh, it’s no bother. All of this is white noise to me, she said.

God does not want us to show favoritism.
Choosing rich over poor, well dressed over shabbily clothed, is an insult to God.
God does not want us to pay more attention to someone for superficial reasons.
God chooses the poor of this world to be rich in faith so they can inherit the kingdom.

May we see as God sees.
May we choose a table as an innocent child might choose it.
No pretense. No agenda.
Grandma, sit next to me.