Last night was the first night in MONTHS that we ate dinner together as a family at the table.
I put the leaves out at each spot and asked everyone to write what they are grateful for on the back. I went into it with prayer and low expectations. I told the kids that since we will have less times like this where we will eat together as a family that I wanted to do it more often with intention when we can.
As expected, more than one kid wanted to tell about something they were thinking about. At the same time. As expected, not everyone had a great attitude. But we were all there--all of us.
I put the leaves out at each spot and asked everyone to write what they are grateful for on the back. I went into it with prayer and low expectations. I told the kids that since we will have less times like this where we will eat together as a family that I wanted to do it more often with intention when we can.
As expected, more than one kid wanted to tell about something they were thinking about. At the same time. As expected, not everyone had a great attitude. But we were all there--all of us.
I had the opportunity to teach one not to stick her finger in the gravy boat, lick her plate, or lick the drops on the side of the gravy boat.
The last one to share about his thankfulness circled his finger in the air and said, "This."
When I asked him what "this" meant he said "dinner together at the table."
When I asked him what "this" meant he said "dinner together at the table."
What I didn't expect was what happened after dinner. Three helped with dishes. We waited to do homework until after dinner and so I was worried about how that would go, but one helped a couple littles. More spontaneous hugs happened. And one offered to help make lunches this morning.
Thankfulness precedes the miracle.
Yes, it does.
