Dinner is never just a meal. Dinner is an event. As a matter of fact, I've realized over the years that dinner isn't really even about the food. Even with eight children to feed night after night, my husband and I gave them much more than just a meal every night. I saw dinner as a few more things, besides the need to feed all these people I gave birth to. I saw dinner as an opportunity to connect, teach, learn, and socialize. I believe a dinner event helps teach my children to be civilized. Everyone, uncivilized or not, eats. Civilized people eat socially - at a dinner event.
I still see dinner as all these things, and more, even though we only have three kids left at home. Sunday dinner is even more engaging as my mother-in-law joins us and it's become a great time for her to get to know our three youngest kids, and vice-versa. We often have others join us for Sunday dinner as well and it's always a great time.
How does my theology play into dinner? Well, I cook dinner and prepare a table for dinner because I love my family. I don't hold out on them for appreciation; I do it whether I think they appreciate it or not (I'm quite sure they do as they keep coming). But, even if they didn't, I would create the dinner event because I love them, want what's best for them and want to spend time with them. More often than not, I cook what they like, too. This is a way of serving my family.
Night after night, many of us stay-at-home moms prepare dinner and create a dinner event. My hope is that none of you will stop even if you grow weary. An occasional dinner out is great, but the routine family dinner is still a family staple.
Getting hungry yet?
~Tricia
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