By Megan Erbacher
Daily Blessings
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:8-9).
Does anyone know what happened to Sunday family dinners?
You know, the dinner where the whole family sits down at the table at the same time to eat a meal together before the new week begins. The suppers we so often see portrayed on family-focused television shows and in the movies.
Maybe I’m alone in feeling this way, but I fear as a society we have taken for granted and forgotten how special it is to share a meal and time together. I believe it’s such a wonderful way to wrap-up one week and mentally prepare for the week ahead.
Let’s bring back Sunday family dinners!
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Maybe your family never lost this tradition. I’m sure there are still plenty of people who have weekly family dinners – kudos to you!
The meal doesn’t have to happen on a Sunday. I just like the symbolism of Sunday: a day of rest and time to worship God. Exodus 20:8, 10, tells us to: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. … on it you shall not do any work.”
Sunday is a great day to unwind, relax and restore your faith. It gives us a chance to take a deep breath, exhale the past week and inhale your goals for the week ahead.
Family dinners can also be a time to share your worries or concerns for the upcoming week, or even what you’re looking forward to; and your family can give you feedback or advice on how you can tackle the week.
What better way to get a little perspective on the upcoming week than spending some time with God and your loved ones?
Most weeks, Steve and I typically have dinner with either my parents or his parents, but there are times when we all get caught up in the busyness of life and it slips past us.
So, if you can’t gather with your extended family, then enjoy an uninterrupted meal with your spouse. Yes – uninterrupted – so put those phones away, turn off the TV, eat your supper and enjoy a one-on-one conversation. Sitting together in silence is OK, too.
When life gets us down and nothing seems to be going our way, I find it comforting to regroup with family. We should remember to keep our faith, despite all of the uncertainty and conflict in the world.
In a social-media-focused world where silly memes and posts revolve around the Sunday scaries (i.e. the anxiety that sets in with the impending return to work, school, etc.), let’s revive Sunday family dinners. We should re-write the Sunday scaries narrative and instead look forward to Sunday and an uninterrupted family dinner with our loved ones.
“Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water” (Exodus 23:25).