Table Talk

One of my favorite memories growing up is the times our family was around the dinner table. My mother was a great cook. And my Dad was a great story teller. He would tell the funniest stories that happened to him at his office. Over the years all us kids would ask Dad to re-tell some of his stories that especialy made us howl with laughter.

After leaving California, marrying and having a family of my own, I tried to pass on this tradition. Table talk at the dinner table has always meant so much to me. Susan and the kids loved going out to dinner, but they always knew that Dad preferred staying home for one of Susan's great meals -- and conversation around the table.

What I've found is that if you took some time during table talk to structure the conversation, it's likely that everyone around the table has a chance to share. As our kids got into high school, I would at times suggest that during a meal we'd take turns telling about our day -- specifically, telling of our greatest blessing of the day and greatest challenge. We learned so much from our children when we asked them these specific questions.

I've found that when having extended family our friends in our home for dinner, guiding the conversation really makes it more of a meaningful experience. Last Thanksgiving we had 18 of us around one long table that we had laid out from our kitchen into our living room -- our family and Susan's extended family. At the suggestion of one of Susan's sisters, after beginning our scrumptious meal we passed around a basket full of little strips of paper. Each strip had a question on it, such as, "What was your house like growing up?" or "What was your favorite job?" or "Tell us about a favorite teacher." It was so interesting, and at times humorous, to hear various ones tell their story. We learned so much about each other that we probably would not have learned if we had just let the conversation meander or let one or two do all the talking.

Yesterday we had our small group over. It had been some time since we had been together and so I wanted to make sure we could hear from everyone. Therefore, I once more structured the conversation. After talking for awhile I asked the group to take turns to share one recent "God moment" in their life...and how they plan to change because of this encounter with the Lord. I said that it might be a Scripture they read, a book that impacted them, some particular experience, whatever. They asked me to tell start and so I told of the huge impact that attending Byron Nelson's memorial service had on our son, Aaron, and me.

Lynette described her fascinating visit to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City -- a prayer and praise session located in a strip mall. It had been going on 24 hours a day for the past 7 years!

Susan shared with us some insights from her studies that morning in a Beth Moore study on the book of Daniel - -and how we humans tend to put our trust in humans rather than in almighty God.

Clint and Alana, who were visiting this weekend in Abilene, told a wonderful God moment in how He enabled them to sell their house, move to San Antonio, get a new job with some Christian lawyers, and purchase land in Fredericksburg.

Candy told us of an amazing experience she has been having in a Monday night session of prayer, praise and healing. While Kate described how God is using her gifts in a recent part-time job that she's been led into.

I love table talk! Especially when the conversation is centered on the Lord and describing His active presence in our lives - and how faithful and awesome He is.

How about your dinner conversations lately? What memories do you have of table talk when you were growing up -- or some recent times of significance around the dinner table?

Jim