The Family Dinner Table

Tonight we spent the evening sitting at our local beach with a small group of folks from our church for a little bring your own supper-fellowship time. It was a good time for all!

It reminded me of how important the family meal time is. Most families are super busy, to say the least. I would encourage you, beg you even, to have at least one meal a day, as a family, with all members present together at the dinner table. We worked so hard to accomplish this. With dad's crazy works schedule, the sports seasons, overnighters, etc., we managed to do this almost every night. We made it a priority. The number one rule was: NO TELEVISION! Number two rule: NO PHONE CALLS! We had an answering machine. The caller could wait.

Around our table no subject was off limits. Which was very interesting for me, being the lone female. There were evenings that our sons would just stay and talk. We laughed a lot, had some serious discussions, and answered some awkward questions. The things that rarely happened were silence and the inhaling of food and a quick departure from the table. No one seemed too anxious to leave.

We had to adjust meal times to earlier or later depending on ball games etc, sometimes. Dad quite often worked long days during busy seasons and would come home and eat with us and then go back to work. If dinner seems impossible, then start breakfast early. I have a friend that got her family in the routine of eating breakfast at 6am just so they could have one meal a day together. There were lots of complaints in the beginning, but they eventually got used to it. What was important, was their commitment to see each other across the table. I think mayber her kids became young coffee drinkers just to wake up!

We have great memories of things shared. We get together with  now our kids, their wives, and our grandkids as often as we are able. The grandkids like to hear stories about their dads. Plus, those are fun to tell. Hopefully, they are doing the same for their families.

Whatever the circumstances in your family, try your hardest to have a family meal together everyday. If that doesn't work, 3 times a week. Follow the two rules, NO TV and absolutely NO CELL PHONES!

Keep on lovin'
Madre