Reflections
A Family Founded on Christianity – At the Dinner Table
Here at ChristianApostles, we are proud to live out our faith in all that we do. Each night as my family sits down for dinner, we look upon the crucifix hanging on the wall in the dinner table. This crucifix helps remind our family of Jesus’ constant presence. With humble hearts, we bow our heads down and pray together, reflecting on the blessings of the day and giving thanks to God for the meal before us.
No matter how busy, stressful, or restless my day might have been, praying with my family reminds me of what is truly important in life. I encourage prayer to ensure my family routinely gives thanks for the blessings bestowed on our household.
We also have a rule of “no screens at the dinner table”. This means no laptops, TVs, video games, or cell phones at the table. This may sound simple, but how often do we want to catch up on the nightly news as it conflicts with our meals? Or how often do we need to immediately see who sent a new text or email in your inbox. Though the no screens rule is admittedly one of the hardest things I do each day, it is by far the most rewarding. Spending an hour each night face-to-face with my family means more to me than any text message or email could.
My family and I love taking turns in saying grace at the dinner table. We rotate, so it is easy to remember who is up next. This gives everyone sufficient time to pick out a memorable bible verse or think of specific prayer intentions. We often take this time to remember family members who have passed or pray for anyone who may be ill in our life. After dinner we like to pray an evening prayer together.
Here are a few of my family’s favorite dinner prayers:
Oh The Lord is good to me
and so I thank the Lord,
for givin’ me the things I need,
the sun and rain and an apple seed,
Yes, the Lord is good to me.
Sung to the tune of the Adams Family:
Na na na nah (snap fingers twice)
Na na na nah (snap fingers twice)
Na na na nah (sing three times then snap fingers twice)
We thank you for our food Lord
For Mom & Dad and You Lord
We thank you for our food Lord
That gets us through the day!
How can you bring your family together? Are you connected through God through grace before your meals? Think about ways your family can incorporate your faith into your daily lives, such as before your meal at the dinner table. Through prayer and the grace of God, may we be reminded of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice he made for the world that began with his meal with his disciples. May we be Disciples of Christ in everything we do.