Dinner Is For Families That Stays Together

Breaking bread is something Christians have always done to bond. In fact, meals appear throughout Jesus’ ministry in celebratory, instructional, everyday, and even miraculous events.

He performed His first miracle at a wedding, turning water into wine (John 2:1–11). He taught and fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, showing compassion and provision (Matthew 14:13–21). He shared the Last Supper with His closest disciples, breaking bread and pouring the cup as a sign of His coming sacrifice and new covenant (Luke 22:14–20). And after His resurrection, He prepared a breakfast barbecue on the beach for them, showing His love for them by cooking and feeding them (John 21:9–14).

What’s more, Scripture promises future feasting and celebration in heaven:

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

— Revelation 19:9 (ESV)

If Jesus Himself spent so much of His time and recorded so many meals in Scripture, there must be a significant reason. Eating together seems to open hearts. It’s almost like a universal language. In the old Chinese culture and I imaging it is in many others, families and villages gather for festivals to cook and share massive meals. In the corporate world, leaders take teams out to celebrate, build trust, or to have honest, heart-to-heart conversations over food.

For me, many of my warmest memories of my parents and brother are around the dinner table, sharing the events of the day, our dreams, our laughters and wisdom.

Today, in our own family, even though our children are grown but not yet married, we make a big effort to come together for a meal at least once a week. A wise woman with eight children once counseled Jane and me: as kids grow and start their own families, stay flexible. Ours are still single, so we can have this weekly rhythm where our children know they have a place of security. They know they can always reach us, and we’ll be available for a meal with them if they want it.

We also dream of gathering the whole extended family at least once a year, perhaps for a twelve-day celebration around Christmas. We’ll eat, drink, and remind ourselves that the most important thing on earth, and on the other side of heaven, is the people we love and care for. Of course, that would include our families. I pray each one of you have the same safe place called family dinner table where you and your loved ones can gather around to share a meal often. Share your lives with one another. Invest in each other and let’s build a world full of warmth and well adjusted children.

Let us parents with young children to make it a daily habits to serve that meal, breaking bread together and treasure the memories and the opportunities to listen to their hearts and share your wisdom when they need it most.