When I was a kid my family ate together almost every night. It might be Spaghetti, Soup and Sandwiches or a Gourmet Feast; whatever food the meal consisted of was secondary, though. The important part of dinner was being able to share with each other about our day. Sometimes we brought up controversial topics of the day, sometimes we shared a funny experience, sometimes we debated the pros and cons of a decision that needed to be made.
My husband and I announced our engagement during a large family meal one Thanksgiving. We shared the exciting news of pregnancy over a Chinese lunch complete with fortune cookies containing the message, "You will soon be blessed with another grandchild" (I made 'em myself!). When my father passed away, we laughed and cried, sharing our favorite memories while lingering over a meal prepared for us with love from our church family.
In our modern, hustle and bustle lives, I find my family spending less and less time sharing mealtimes together. More often than not, each person grabs what's available to eat, hurrying to one meeting or another. As a result, conversations that once happened naturally while lingering over mashed potatoes don't often take place.
It is our job as parents to keep those lines of communication open between our spouses, our children and our extended family and friends. September 24 is a great way to take a stand for family togetherness. My family will be eating together next Monday, even if it is simply a few minutes before bedtime, lingering over a muffin and some herbal tea. Maintaining the quality of the relationships in my family is worth the effort. I hope others join in, too!
Follow this link to sign a pledge your commitment to be a part of this effort!
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