Sitting Little in Our Abundance (08/18/2026)

I started a bible study group for a few women years ago. There were four of us, and then there were six, and then we expanded to eight, and finally we grew to 10. It is a blessing when all of us can make our Monday evening dinner, conversation, and bible study. Most weeks, someone is traveling or sick, so we rarely hit ten which makes sitting around my table built for 6 tight. But last night we were abundantly blessed, and everyone was there. And so, we had to “sit little” and it was marvelous.

I learned about “sitting little” as a child when we’d be blessed with visitors at mealtime. Once when my Grandma Lena was visiting, our table, built for 8, had to accommodate 12. I was sitting next to the wall and Grandma Lena was sitting next to me on the other side.  She leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Sit little, Kathleen, sit little.”  And ever since then, “sitting little” is code for we’re abundantly blessed.

Our scripture study is a blessing. The women of the group vary in ages and background. Some of us have husbands, some are widows. Some of us have children, some grandchildren, some even great grandchildren. And when we break open the Word together, the experience and wisdom and different perspectives that rise up from us strengthens our understanding, heightens our awareness of the Spirit at work in our conversations, and deepens our love for the LORD and one another.

Last night as I sat on the porch and prayed in thanksgiving for another day, especially a bible study day, I found myself praying to the LORD in thanksgiving that our bible study got so large that we always had to “sit little.”

Wouldn’t it be amazing and wonderfully so if the faith this side of the sod grew to such an extent that no church could hold us unless we “sat little”? Shall we try? It begins with Christ but it involves us. As the passage we read last night at bible study reminds us: “How can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.’” (Romans 10:14-15)

May we all be messengers of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some of us may preach, some of us may teach, some of us may use words, some of us may speak as strongly and believably of Christ through actions, through Christ lived. The Spirit may lead us to be sparks in the LORD’s spreading fire of faith in multiple ways. May we be willing to go where we are sent and share our faith in Christ. And may our numbers grow until we must “sit little” in the abundant harvest.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.