In days gone by the dinner table was the center of family life. These days that tradition has gone by the wayside. This is very unfortunate because it shows in families. A tightly knit family was the beginning for life just a few generations ago and it showed in our country as a whole. These days most people have very little idea of what is really going on in thier extended family let alone in thier own home. The kitchen table was a place where the kids talked about what was going on, what they where doing, thier plans for the week etc over breakfast, lunch and dinner. These days a meal consists of whatever can be picked up in a drive through window or unwrapped while you’re on the way to do something.

Our modern age of accomplishing more, instant gratification and cheap massed produced everything has taken its toll on the family . We have substitued family time for all things cheap and meaningless. Mickey D’sFast food, the rehashed movie and chinese furniture.

When did the norm become having everything done for us? Taking no pride in anything including the family? Making a meal that took the afternoon used to be a source of joy for who ever made it, typically the wife. It took time and skill, both of which seem to be a rare commodity these days. If someone actually cooks these days it tends to be microwave dinner. The funny part is that in alot of families even this farce of making dinner is met with “you cooked dinner?”. My god! What happened to quality and pride?

When everything is replaceable in life what really has any meaning or value? How can it have any value or meaning?

A conversation held in front of the tv is distracted and quickly forgotten by everyone involved. It carries no meaning because there is no eye contact or true interaction. Conversations held over a true home cooked meal that was carefully prepared carries with it a whole lot more meaning. Why you ask well it’s simple. Whoever took the time to pick up, prepare and then cook everything must really care about who they’re making it for. They were willing to set aside the time necessary to cook such a meal. In this day and age of no time that in itself says alot. When the time is taken it doesn’t go un-noticed simply because it’s so rare these days. One of the biggest keys to family dinners is the initial effort put forth by the person that actually makes it. This sets things in motion for all involved to put extra effort into the family table.

Meetings around the dinner table are undistracted, face to face and more sincere. When home cooked dinners are included as a normal part of family life that family has a chance to become like the families of our fore-fathers – closer, more loving and sincere.