Early one morning, I jogged along next to my grandmother on her way to work... She was starting early and I was visiting her as a 10 yr old during my school holidays. As we bustled on thru the streets of Brisbane, Australia, catching buses, walking downtown then catching more buses, I remember vividly my grandmother stopping in front of a store window and staring wistfully at a dinner set displayed there. "One day, grandma is going to own all of that dinner set, every piece" she told me. I could tell from the tone of her voice it was a special and rare thing for her to own anything for herself. Most of her life she had scrimped and saved to make sure that her family had what it wanted. This was just what you did if you lived through the "depression" and she had no regrets. After working in a law firm as a cook for a number of years, however, she had put aside enough money to purchase her beloved Alfred Meakin dinner set. She loved this dinner set and it included every last possible piece a dinner set can include. 96 piece if I am not mistaken. It was a setting for 5 with everything from egg cups, fruit plates, jam plates, ice cream bowls, cereal bowls, coffee pot, tea pot, creamer, milk jug and more.
Later, in Casino, NSW, I remember visiting her humble house for "suppers" after church where she invited many folk to come and share her home, her food, and piano for a sing along...
I remember despising some of the folk she invited because of their social ineptitude...she reminded me that "whosoever will may come" and whenever important or clever folk aren't able to come then I go out to the "highways and byways and find folk and give them an invite".
She served lots of ready made food and her own freshly baked shortcrust tartlets filled with jam and cream.
When she died, she was missed by many. One of the things I remember about her the most was her dinner set. It was such a blessing for me to receive this after her death.
It travelled all the way to Canada with me where I kept it neatly stacked in my cupboard for special china. I didn't want a single cup to break. Later, it came with me to Africa...
One night at our Alpha dinner we were short of china...and I suddenly remembered my grandmother's dinner set. Should I use it? It was so special... then I remembered that this dinner set was special because of the woman who bought it and how she used it to love people. Her welcome of others and warm hospitality is what makes this dinner set so special for me.
Tonight we used her dinner set again for our Alpha supper. We have 3 muslims, 1 hindu and some nominal christians attending our course, all of whom are welcomed into our home and served soup, rolls and salad on my grandmother's dinner set... I think she would be happy.
I wonder what she would think about her dinner set that has travelled more widely than she ever did... did she ever suspect that God would use this to serve people in Tanzania East Africa warm food and a genuine welcome ... just like she did in Brisbane and Casino, Australia.
I salute you grandma... thanks for your gift of a lovely dinner set that reminds me of the warm hospitality you showed to so many....
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