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Some families gather around the dinner table every evening, some less frequently and more informally. The holidays are coming, and many of us hope to gather to enjoy a feast of tasty food and sweet fellowship. Who is around our table? What do we talk about?
Everyday dinner hour is a rich time to nourish our families—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Between bites, we discuss how our day went. Small talk blends with big talk. Sometimes there may be friction, but we try to turn things positive. Tiredness may cloud our minds. But through it all, let’s put Deuteronomy 6 into practice. When we rise up, when we sit down, and all along life’s pathway, let’s be purposeful about teaching our children to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and might and to walk in His ways. Morals are molded around the dinner table. Destinies are decided. Life is interpreted. “You had friend trouble today? Let’s help you resolve it.” “Let’s pray for the persecuted Christians in Nigeria.” “What did you learn today?” Our words are formative. Let’s infuse the wisdom of Solomon’s Proverbs and the grace of Jesus Christ from the Gospels into the souls around our table and then continue the conversations into family worship and bedtime talk.
On Thanksgiving Day in the United States, we gather to thank God for His many blessings. Share your gratitude for the gifts that God has given you over the past year. Thank others for what they mean to you. Let the little ones see His hand in your life. We gather on Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, so let’s tell each other what His life means to us. By expressing the reality of the gospel in our lives, it may become real in the lives of others. Between the fun and laughter, let’s be purposeful about our conversation. Give God the glory.
Whether it is daily dinnertime or holiday meals, share your blessings. Those of us who are privileged to gather with others must remember those who are alone. Their loneliness is compounded during the holidays. Look around your church and community, and invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind any day, but especially on holidays. Jesus told us to show hospitality specifically to those who cannot return the favor (Luke 14:12–14). We will be blessed in doing so, and He even promises to reward us.
Jesus instructed His disciples around the supper table hours before His death. Each one wanted to be the greatest. But He said that the one who serves would be the greatest. Then He showed them greatness by washing their feet. A life of serving is the only way to live. Let your light shine by serving around the table and everywhere else. Teach your children to serve. Serving is medicine for sadness, sorrow, self-pity, and selfishness. It fills us with joy and blessing. Let’s live to serve, and then serving will give us life. Let attitudes of humility and love for our neighbor color in our conversation. Let’s use our dinner-table talk to glorify God.