A Place at the Table

For several years, I volunteered as an English teacher for a group of women who had immigrated from Mexico. Because of limited space at the front of our classroom, no one sat at the head of the table. I perched at an awkward angle at one corner of the table with the students sitting around three sides. I felt like I was on the sidelines, even more so when conversations would veer off-topic from the lessons I had planned.

One day, though, I realized something more important than grammar lessons was taking place. The students were using their growing English skills to share their personal stories with me. In a sense, they were inviting me to move up higher into the gift of friendship. As I relaxed my grasp on the class and accepted a place within the community, albeit with a particular role, I began to learn beautiful life lessons from my students.

Through their eyes, I saw that there is always room at the table for one more, for ten more, for however many may arrive. Their affectionate style of prayer awakened me to how very near God is to us. They gave witness to the faithful com­panionship of Mary. They urged me to worry less and to celebrate more, to receive life as a gift from God each day.

At this table, I found humility opening me to mutual relationships. The companionship formed around this table was renewing, a “bountiful rain” from God (Psalm 68:9). How grateful I am for that seat at the table and all that it brought into my life.

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Baker, PhD, is associate professor of patristics at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology and cofounder of Women of the Church, a Catholic leadership forum.

[credit] Kimberly Baker, from the August 2025 issue of Give Us This Day giveusthisday.org (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2025). Used with permission.