Start a family tradition

“And he took bread gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  Luke 22:19 NIV

     When Jordyn was in high school, she was on the dance team.  She loved to dance and she loved her team.  There were several times when the team would come over to get ready for a Friday night football game.  It was always loud with maybe 12 or 15  high school girls.  A lot of words were used.  I used to tell Jordy she was speaking in girl speed, I was hearing at man speed.  The two were incompatible at times. 

     Our family also had habit of sharing the best part of your day and the worst part of your day.  Those team meals were no exception.  The girls always went around the table sharing about their day.  It was fun to listen to their stories and how each team member engaged in the conversation.    

     We heard about some happenings that were just funny.  One of my favorites was when Becca, one of Jordy’s closet friends, who also carried one of the flags during the performance of the marching band quietly said “Well, I can’t remember my flag routine.”  She was one of the smartest kids we have seen.  She was also the most prone to looking a little confused at times.  I remember watching the routine that night and seeing her look left or right at one of the other flag team members to see what she was supposed to do.

     We also heard about some serious topics.  The girls would listen to each other and just engage in the conversation.  They talked.  They laughed.  Sometimes one of them wanted to know what Mary or I thought about an issue.  I remember one of the girls looking at me and asking “you guys do this every night?”  Her family did not regularly eat together.  That also means they did not regularly talk together.  We do.

     For every tradition that exists, there was a day before it started.  The day before the first Thanksgiving, there was no Thanksgiving.  The day before your first family meal, there wasn’t.  You can make your own tradition, tailored to your own life events.  It does not have to be for everyone you know.  It doesn’t have to be big.  You don’t even have to cook.  Take turns or order food to go.  We are blessed with my wife.  She lets people pick a menu and then figures out how to make it. 

     In life, we try to live in a manner that Jesus would want.  On the last night He spent with His disciples “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  Luke 22:19 NIV  Even if you are alone you can share a meal with Jesus.  Just give Him thanks for it and invite Him to stay a while.  Tell Him the best and worst part of your day.  He just might become family.

How often does your family sit down together?

How do you find time to connect with the people you care about?

Challenge:  If you do not have time, do you eat every day?  If you eat every day, you have time.  Nothing elaborate is needed, just a common meal eaten together can turn in to its own tradition.