The Family Table

In the past, eating at the family table was a part of everyday life. The familiar sound each evening of mother calling to the children, "Dinner's Ready, come to the table!" was heard in homes everywhere. However, today this is often not the case. We live in a fast paced, drive-thru society. I have found myself caught in the fast food lane picking dinner up for my family so many times, I have hoped the neighbors wouldn't notice when I came home with McDonald's bags in my arms.

When we moved into our 1900's home in the summer of 2008, there was an old dinner bell hanging by the side door. It is a symbol of simpler times. This bell is a reminder of how important it is to serve nutritious meals at the family table on a regular basis.

"She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table."

Proverbs 9:2

In The Home Experience by Devi Titus, she introduces an idea called the Table Principle. She says"The Table Principle is a truth that transcends culture and time. Since the creation of the first table, the table has been of primary importance to the family system. This principle stands true even when values and lifestyles change. Time spent at the table satisfies a cry of the human heart because a lovingly prepared table is a place where the presence of God dwells and individual relationships are established."
Checklist for Returning to the Family Table
•Ask the Lord to show you how to make eating together as a family a priority.

•Clear the clutter and set the table before dinner so your family can anticipate the meal to come.

•Increase the number of meals you eat together. Not every meal needs to be at the table. Pizza and a movie on the couch on Friday night can bring the family together as well.

•Play quiet music in the background while eating.

•Make the table look inviting and beautiful. This can be done by using nice dishes and silverware or by setting the table with color coordinated paper plates and cups.

•Add seasonal touches like fresh flowers from the spring garden or a lighted candle on a crisp fall evening.

•Prepare simple and nutritious meals that your family enjoys.