Dawn Phelps
Columnist
I recently listened to a brief video by a father who helps tuck his two young daughters in bed each night. He talked about how, when he tucks them in bed, he likes to ask them, “What was the best part of your day?” He wants to remind them to be thankful for the good things in their lives.
The dad told the story of a Sunday when their family had attended church in the morning. Afterwards the mom prepared a delicious lunch which included dessert. During the afternoon, the family watched a movie and played video games together. The dad described it as an overall enjoyable day.
So, that evening, when he was telling his daughters goodnight, he asked one of girls about “the best part of the day,” and she immediately replied, “lunch!”
When he asked her, “why,” she replied that it was because they had “all talked together.”
Then he asked his other daughter the same question. “What was the best part of your day,” and she also replied, “lunch!” When he asked her “why?” she replied, “because we all sat around the table and laughed and told stories!”
Perhaps the dad expected the daughters to mention the delicious dessert their mom had made or the movie they had watched. But instead, the highlight of the day was sitting around the table after lunch, talking, laughing, and telling stories!
That father’s story reminded me of my own childhood memories of eating and talking around a big table in years past where I grew up in Tennessee. There were 10 of us—my parents, seven kids, and my grandmother.
We had hot homemade biscuits in the morning and cornbread at noon and for supper. And we also laughed and had many conversations around our old table.
Our daddy was a preacher and took the scripture about not too much “foolish talking and jesting” seriously, so we seldom let our “foolishness” get out of hand. But we still had fun talking and telling stories—special time which made special memories.
After I grew up and married, I bought a sturdy old table with six leaves. We could seat 18 people comfortably around it and “squeeze” in a few more. On many occasions, our family, extended family, and friends filled that table plus another table in the kitchen! Those fun times and conversations are now priceless memories.
One of Tom and my favorite “table” memories was when Devin, one of Tom’s grandsons, was ten years old. We all sat around my big table after a Thanksgiving meal and told stories and laughed. Devin listened attentively, soaking up the stories! After a bit, Devin piped up with, “We need to have more family times like this!”
My daughter Misty told me another “table” memory. It happened when she, her husband Bryan, and their family were moving from one house to another. They worked all day moving their belongings and had moved the beds into the new house so they could sleep there that night. By then, it was almost midnight, so they decided to finish moving the next day.
At that time, their oldest child Samuel was about four years old. Sam went to his parents very distressed and was ready to cry. He pleadingly asked his parents, “But how can we eat without a table?” So, his dad made another trip and brought the table and chairs to their new home so they could eat together the next morning.
Sometimes we do not know how valuable taking time to talk and share stories may be for younger family members. Or we may not realize that our presence and time spent around a table (or even without a table) may be a gift to others!
So, dads, moms, and others in the lives of the younger one, those little ones are watching you. Your example is important! So, don’t underestimate the importance of the love and time you invest in the next generation.
Talking, laughing, and storytelling around a table can leave lasting impressions and memories. But like Sam said, “How can we eat (and talk) without a table?”
Wishing a late happy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to those reading this!
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