The Holiday Table: Moving Beyond Leftovers to True Hospitality
As the holiday season approaches each year, many of us turn our thoughts to giving and sharing. It’s a time when generosity seems to flow a little more freely, often in the form of food donations to local shelters and community programs. While this tradition of giving is meaningful and deeply appreciated, it has led me to reflect on something larger—something unsettling, yet deeply important.
Why is it that as a society, we’re so comfortable sharing our leftovers and scraps, but so hesitant to invite those in need to join us at the table for the firsts? Why do we so often relegate those outside of our immediate circle to being an afterthought rather than centering them in our acts of kindness and care?
Leftovers: A Symbol of Our Current Approach
When we donate food after our holiday feasts, it’s a generous act. It signals that we’re thinking about others and that we care about their well-being. But leftovers, by their very nature, send an implicit message: We thought about you after we thought about ourselves. It’s not malicious or even conscious for most of us, but it reflects a broader cultural tendency to place the needs of the vulnerable at the periphery of our lives rather than at the center.
Even during a season that celebrates abundance, family, and togetherness, the act of giving leftovers can unintentionally reinforce a social hierarchy. It says, “You can have what we didn’t eat,” instead of, “We saved a seat for you, and we prepared this meal with you in mind.”
Reimagining Hospitality: A Place at the Table
What if we shifted our perspective? What if, instead of reserving generosity for what remains after we’ve satisfied ourselves, we invited others to partake in the best we have to offer? Imagine setting a table with those in need—not just figuratively but literally. Imagine making space for everyone, with plates that are full of what’s fresh, warm, and intentionally prepared.
This kind of hospitality requires us to reimagine the concept of community. It challenges us to move from a transactional mindset of giving what’s left over to a transformational approach where we center those who are often marginalized. It demands we look at our traditions, not just for what they are, but for what they could become.
A Question of Faith and Tradition
For many, the holiday season is deeply tied to faith—particularly the Christian tradition. Yet, it’s worth asking: How often do the ways we practice hospitality align with the Christ we proclaim? The nativity story itself holds a stark lesson. The very Savior at the center of this season was born in a place that offered no room for him. During this time of year, how many churches and Christian institutions unintentionally replicate that message? How many say, “There’s no room at the inn,” by the way they structure their programs, their outreach, and even their worship spaces?
The teachings of Christ emphasize radical hospitality—welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, and treating the least among us as though they were Him. But too often, our actions reflect a tradition that prioritizes convenience over connection, charity over communion, and crumbs over the full feast.
Making the Shift: From Afterthought to Intentional Care
Moving from a mindset of leftovers to a spirit of true hospitality requires intentionality. It’s about more than opening our wallets or our pantries; it’s about opening our hearts and our homes. Here are a few ways we can make that shift:
- Invite, Don’t Just Give
- Host a community meal where everyone is welcome to sit at the same table, regardless of their circumstances. Instead of cooking for “them,” cook with them, creating a shared experience that fosters dignity and connection.
- Reframe Holiday Traditions
- Encourage your faith community, neighborhood, or family to rethink their holiday giving. Could your church host a meal instead of donating food boxes? Could your family spend time volunteering at a shelter, not just dropping off goods but serving and sharing a meal?
- Examine Our Narratives
- Reflect on the stories we tell about those in need. Are we framing them as recipients of charity or as integral members of our community? Language matters, and so does the way we treat people in our actions and intentions.
- Teach Radical Hospitality
- Educate ourselves and others about the importance of welcoming the stranger. Use the holiday season as an opportunity to reflect on the deeper meanings of generosity, not just in material terms but in how we extend care and belonging.
A Table Prepared With You in Mind
True hospitality isn’t easy. It asks us to stretch beyond what feels comfortable and convenient. It pushes us to confront the ways our traditions may inadvertently perpetuate exclusion. But it’s also profoundly rewarding, offering the chance to connect with others in ways that are transformative and deeply human.
As we gather this holiday season, let’s challenge ourselves to move beyond leftovers. Let’s create spaces of intentional care, where everyone feels seen, valued, and included from the start. Let’s make room at our tables and in our lives—not just because it’s the season of giving, but because it’s the right thing to do.
In doing so, we reflect the best of our humanity and the true spirit of the holidays: love, connection, and a table big enough for everyone.
