Welcoming teens to the table is one of many ways to include others in the uplifting aspects of your daily routine. Often, these opportunities catch us by surprise.

We were smack dab in the middle of a play date. My son and his friend had been busy all afternoon playing outdoor games, building with Legos, and a half dozen other activities. Now, they were hungry.

Posts may contain affiliate links, including Amazon links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. See disclosure policy for details.

Heeding An Impression

I had lunch prepared and was preparing to sit down as a family to enjoy our meal and daily devotional. Second guessing myself, I wondered if it might be best to let the boys eat at the table by themselves.

That’s when the impression came.

“Why change your routine just because a friend is here? Sit around the table as a family and include the friend in your meal and daily devotional.”

The Welcome Mat

Without hesitation, I gathered my girls and invited my son and his friend to join us at the table. The hungry kids quickly took their seats, eagerly eyeing the food spread across the table. When everyone was settled, we formally welcomed our friend, offered a blessing on the food, and began to eat.

After a few moments, I pulled out our daily devotional book. The devotion for this particular day was titled, “The Welcome Mat“. It read, in part,:

“A welcome mat on a front porch makes an entire house seem friendly. The people stepping onto the mat feel invited into that space. Before the front door even opens, they’re officially welcomed into the home. The world could use a few more welcome mats.

People don’t necessarily need someone who can fix their problems. They aren’t always looking for someone who understands every little thing they’re currently going through. Sometimes all they need is to know that they are welcome and that they don’t have to leave their mess at the door. When we roll out the welcome mat, we may be surprised by who has been waiting for someone to invite them in.

Lord, teach me the art of loving people well by welcoming them into my home. Make my home a place where they can feel loved and wanted when they enter and a little less lonely when they leave.”

Are your teens bored?

Find inspiration with this FREE list of 199+ teen hobbies!

Yes, please!

Table Talk

After reading the devotional, I paused. Then, as usual, I invited my children to share thoughts or insights about the devotional message.

My children, feeling a bit awkward with their friend at the table, were completely silent.

Then, just as I was ready to give up, something unexpected happened: the friend’s voice broke through the silence.

With quiet confidence, he said,

“Well, I know that I feel comfortable in your house, and I’m glad to be here. The food is really good, so thank you so much!”

Smiling, I told him that he is always welcome in our home, regardless of what the future holds.

Like Family

Something changed that day as we sat around the table, opened a Bible-based devotional book, and shared a short but poignant heart-to-heart conversation: my son’s friend, who sat down at the table feeling like a visiting friend, left the table feeling like family.

A fun side note: His mom later told me that he returned home that day and said,

“Mom, you know how much I don’t like tomatoes, but they served tomatoes for lunch, so I tried them and they were actually really good.”

Invitation

I hope this experience encourages you to open your heart and your table to others, especially the younger generation. Allow them to feel of the spirit that comes from your uplifting family routines. Maybe, just maybe, they are among those who have been waiting for someone to invite them in.

“Gathered around the table, we’re not just sharing food, but creating memories.”

Anonymous

Consider

Have you had an experience welcoming teens to the table?

In what ways do you invite others into your uplifting routines?