Savored Life

We crowded into their kitchen. He stuffed the chicken and lamb. She made the couscous.

The asparagus, the potatoes, the salad and the dessert stood ready on the counters.

There was talk about looking for work. Health challenges. The morning church services. School and college plans. The upcoming baby.

A timeless moment when the women gathered round and tried to feel the movement of life in a rounded and stretched belly.

We sat down around the table. (Without the lamb, because it was not done.) Held hands and gave thanks. Food was passed and talk continued. Jokes were made about who was at the kids' table since the youngest was 16.

We lingered. Passed everything around again when the lamb was done.

Savored the feast of not just food. But family. And time spent together.

Savor: to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

I have been living life gulped down. Not savoring. I've stuffed in way too much activity in too little space. Running from one thing to the next as I've juggled a bloated calendar.

Leaving my soul hungry.

But yesterday in the tradition of spending Easter with my son and his wife, I enjoyed savored life. In the togetherness, the food and the repeated ritual, it allowed me to compare what had changed against the backdrop of what had stayed the same.

Time slowed. We savored the moments.