DINNER TABLE

My family used to always sit at the dinner table for meals when I was a little child. Actually, the majority of our teachings come from the dinner table. Sometimes the discussion were pleasant, and other times I just wanted to disappear into the wall. It was at the dinner table where we learned life lessons. I recall, at the dinner table, when I was about ten years old, my father asked me a question.

He said “baby girl, I saw you eating candy earlier today. Where did you get the money to buy candy”?

I wondered; how and when did he see me? If I tell the truth, after being warned not to take money from the people in my neighborhood, I would get spanked.

"I found the money," I said.

My father then said, "Where did you find the money?"

"I found the money in the street," I said.

"Are you sure?" my father asked.

"Yes, sir," I replied.

"Did you get the money from the elderly man across the street?" my father then asked.

I was at a loss for words at that point, so I thought, "How did he know?" I turned to face my mom and hoped she would step in. However, she did not.

My father gave me a glance. I glanced at him, and he calmly said, "Get up".

As I set at the dinner table, tears streamed down my faced. I knew I should not have taken the money, but I was just a little girl, who went to the local grocery store for the elderly man my parent knew, and in exchange he gave me fifty cents, and I bought candy. I reluctantly got off out of the chair and followed my dad to his bedroom since I knew that as I sat there it would not change the situation.

In order to assess my integrity, my father waited for the family to gather the dinner table; out of self-preservation, I failed. Not only did I learn a lesson at the dinner table; so, did my siblings. During a friendly talk between my father and the man across the street, the elderly man told my father, he asked, me to run an errand for him, and in return he gave me fifty cents.

You see, it was at the dinner table where we learned right from wrong, it was at the dinner table where we laughed together as a family, where we learned respect, completed our homework, watched mother cook, had our traditional Sunday meal (Pot Roast, mash potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn on the cob, hot buttered rolls, and Kool-Aid). It was at the dinner table, where hidden secrets were revealed. Yes, it is becoming increasingly hard to gather everyone at the dinner table, when we are all going in different directions, it is easy to pick up a meal, disperse to the family, then everyone goes to a different location in the home.

Research has proven, eating as a family has great benefits for the children. Communication is key, and it is important to talk to one another on a regular basis—sitting down at the dinner table is an opportunity to learn more about each other. So, it is time to take a timeout, meet at the dinner table—turn off the cellphone and sit down and have a meal and conversation, about what is going on in the daily life of your loved one.

It never to late to make a change.

Family first!