THE ART OF GRATITUDE | Day 3
Gratitude Around the Table

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” — Luke 24:30 (NRSVUE)

In 1894, African American artist Henry Ossawa Tanner painted a quiet scene of an older man and a young boy seated at a modest table. Their heads are bowed in prayer before a simple meal. Tanner called the painting The Thankful Poor.

There is little in the room to suggest material wealth. Yet the painting draws our attention to something that cannot be measured by possessions: the relationship between these two people and the sacredness of the moment they share.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly meets people around tables. He shares meals with friends and strangers, with those who are welcomed by society and those who are excluded.

And after his resurrection, two disciples finally recognize him when he breaks bread at their table.

Perhaps that is one reason meals can be so meaningful. They offer opportunities for conversation, friendship, memories, and the simple blessing of being together.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we might remember that gratitude is not measured by how much food is on the table or how elaborate the celebration may be.

Sometimes the greatest blessing is simply having someone with whom to share the bread.

Who has helped you understand the meaning of gratitude?

Art & Faith Initiative | First Presbyterian Church, Beatrice, Nebraska

Artwork: Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Thankful Poor, 1894. Art Bridges Collection.