Sitting down to a meal is far more than eating food. Eating not only feeds a hungry tummy but includes all of the five senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Can I encourage you to think about this as you prepare meals for your family? It will bring such blessing to your children.SIGHT
To dish up a meal on an unset table is, I think, a sacrilege. I don’t even like to eat at a naked table (without a tablecloth). It is even worse to prepare a meal and let everyone eat it at different times and wherever they want or in front of the TV.
You can spend time preparing a lovely meal but if it doesn't minister to the sight, it doesn't have a great appeal. On the other hand, you can sit down to a humble meal, placed on a table that is prepared with dignity and love and it can be a spiritual experience. Proverbs 9:1-2 tells us that the wise woman PREPARES her table.
Even young children are aware of the atmosphere when they sit up to a delightfully prepared table. Perhaps you are a mother of young children, and you can't imagine one more task during the busy supper time. It takes all your effort to cook a meal without the extra work of setting a table!
But obstacles are only in our mind. It doesn't take long, and you can teach young children how to set a table properly. It is a basic task for them to learn and they will love to do it. You can make it a competition, as they each have their turn to see who can set it the most attractively.
It adds a touch of class and delight to use a tablecloth. If you haven't time for washing tablecloths, purchase some clear plastic which you can place over a pretty tablecloth, or purchase some attractive plastic cloths that you can wipe down after the meal. Add a candle, some flowers (even if they are wild flowers or weeds that your children find around), or a centerpiece to your table.
Encourage your children to set the table beautifully, not haphazardly. It will make all the difference to your meal.
Did you know that we taste with the eyes as well as the mouth? Make your food look attractive, too. Arrange it appealingly on the table in serving dishes or on individual plates if you do it this way.
HEARING
If you do happen to have TV in your home, make sure you turn it off during mealtime. Put on lovely peaceful music which you can have quietly playing in the background. Create a soothing atmosphere.
TOUCH
Hold hands together as you give thanks to God at the beginning of the meal. Create an atmosphere of togetherness and love.
SMELL
This is a very important part of each meal. Use herbs and spices to enhance your food. It will not only taste better but will fill your home with tantalizing aromas. There is nothing like smelling the food that is cooking for supper. It really makes home feel like "home, sweet home."
Did you know that God loves aromas? The meat that burned upon the altar was a "sweet smelling savour" to God (e.g. Genesis 8:21; Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Leviticus 8:21; and 2 Chronicles 13:11).
TASTE
We wouldn't want to eat food if we couldn't delight in the flavor, would we? Make your food palatable and tasty. Be creative and make different kinds of tastes. Delight in the flavors of the foods God has created. We like to ooh and aah over the tastes of food in our family. I think God is happy about that. He likes us to appreciate what He has created.
You can also train your children's taste buds from a young age. Don't give them sweet junk foods when they are young, and they won't clamor for them when they are older. Feed them healthy food rather than junk food and that's the kind of food they'll enjoy. Don't even bring junk food into your home and you won't have trouble trying to stop your children eating it.
As you prepare your meal each evening, think about how you can impact the five senses of your husband and children. They will take these memories with them for life.
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Education is for life. Not only should our children learn something new each day but we as parents should also. A good question to ask at your family meal table is “What is something new you have learned today?”
In a day when many families eat on the run, around the TV, or at different times, why is it important to come together as a family and SIT AT THE TABLE FOR FAMILY MEALTIMES? Because...
Currently my sister and her husband are living with us as they wait for their new home to be built. Because we are together, often memories of our childhood come up and we talk and laugh about them.
When you are facing sickness or troubles, minister to someone else who is sick or in trouble and you’ll be amazed how healing will come to you.
“The newborn babe is a fresh act of God. He is the latest revelation of God’s creative handiwork.”
Keep your eyes upon the Lord rather than your difficulties and obstacles. God is bigger than any challenge you are facing today.
What is your ultimate vision for your children? To get them into the best college? Push them to get a degree and make a name for themselves? Or to see Christ formed in them? To see them walking in the truth? To see them passionate for Jesus Christ and His kingdom?
Do they have a biblical world view? Are God’s truths penetrated into their hearts and minds more than the ideologies of this world? Can they contend for their faith? This is your responsibility as a parent.
God is Father. He loves to father. He is the source of all parenting.
I wonder why the modern women, even Christian women, hate the word submission. Help! I wonder what they do with this Scripture in 1 Timothy 2:11? “Let the woman learn in silence with ALL subjection.” The Greek word here is “hupotage” which is a little stronger than the usual word for submission which is “hupotasso.” Other translations of the Bible translate it this way:
Yesterday I shared how day care is counterfeit for a mother being with her little one in the home. There is no way to give back to your child all they miss by being in daycare and away from mother. The constancy of motherhood can never be duplicated. In fact, the baby begins to bond with the mother while in the womb and listens to hear her voice when coming into the world.
God has the genuine, the devil has the counterfeit. This is true in every situation. The devil hates every plan and purpose of God and therefore seeks to deceive people and give them a counterfeit of the real. Often the counterfeit looks very good, especially to the wise of this world, but God laughs at the wisdom of man. It is foolishness in His eyes.
God loves to rejoice over His children. Zephaniah 3:17 tell us that God rejoices over us with joy. He even sings over us. Isn’t that wonderful?
I wonder if Christian parents understand the agenda of our current public school system. I believe it is imperative that we know what our children are being taught each day. And how do we know unless we are there in the classroom checking it out?
Blessed with a new tablecloth which a friend recently gave to me. I love tablecloths and enjoy using different colors. Tablecloths brighten up a table and make it so welcoming.
Can you believe that our government is currently preparing the nation for another mask wearing, social distancing, vaccinating lockdown? In other words they want another plandemic (not a typo). We dare not give in to their evil plans. We better start exercising our courage muscles now and be ready to say No to this lockdown of society.
Sometimes you may not feel like loving your husband. Feelings are not facts. Love him in spite of your feelings. Smile at him. Tell him you love him. Be loving. You will be amazed how your actions change your feelings.