Enjoy meals together!

"The Prayer Before the Meal" 1660 by Jan Steen

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. Proverbs 15:17

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Eccl. 9:7

... it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour Eccl. 5:18

Amazing how the condition of one's heart plays a role at the dinner table. Even the Bible mentions how mealtime can be effected by situations. It suggests that eating and happiness should go together.

Mealtime is a great time to connect. It is good to have meals together as a family. When you don't have a family to enjoy dinner with, share mealtimes with friends from time to time. One can arrange turns in hosting the dinner. Invite a lonely soul for dinner, and you both will be blessed.

The best of meals loses its attraction if there is friction between the family members. People don't feel like eating when they are upset. Really it doesn't do them any good, since their stomach is all in knots. Stress and a bad mood destroys the appetite. So this should be avoided at all, if we want to get nutrition from a meal.

We have always considered mealtimes another opportunity to have the whole family together, although we had no heavy conversation going on at the dinner table. Mealtimes with friends can be enjoyable and is a good opportunity for fellowship.

It is also true that food gets better digested when consumed in a happy and peaceful environment.

I'm glad we had most of the meals together with our 4 children. It was a delight to cook for them because they loved everything I prepared.
With this we may learn that the one who prepares the meals gets extra blessed by having the family together at mealtimes while all enjoyed the food and fellowship.

God is good and He is even involved at the dinner table!

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever. Psalm 22:26

Next time around, think of some ideas to make mealtime more enjoyable for all who take part at the dinner table, even more so since the Lord has provided.

In the service of the Kingdom of God.

Dr. Trudy Veerman

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