After serving thirteen years in prison for assault and rape, it was time for Joe’s release. Joe was a big, muscular man covered in tattoos. While Joe adjusted to the outside world, he would come into the Titus home and they would be his family. Larry Titus is a pastor who ministers to newly released prisoners through a home plan ministry. Larry’s wife, Devi, asked herself, “What kind of meal would a man want after being in prison for thirteen years?”

She proceeded to make a mouth-watering spread including homemade apple pie, pot roast, potatoes and green salad. Then, she set the table. When invited to the table, Joe hesitated to sit down.

Devi walked up to the table and pulled out the chair, ”Joe, sit down, have a seat.”

To which Joe replied, “ Dev, I’ve never sat a table before."

Since the beginning of man’s history, God instructed His people to come to the table for restoration, celebration, and love. It is significant after being in slavery for 400 years, one of the first words God gave His children was to come to the table and teach your children what I (God) have done.

I believe Joe’s story is an important warning to us as parents about the culture of our households. What do our daily habits teach our children to love? We routinely eat at kitchen counters, in our cars, or in front of the television, not facing each other. Are we teaching our children social media, soccer, music lessons, and even the church calendar are more important than our family sitting down facing each other at the dinner table? In his book, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, James K.A. Smith states:

The frenetic pace of our lives means we often end up falling into routines without much reflection. We do what we think “good parents” do. And we might think these are just “things that we do” without recognizing that they may also be doing something to us.

I encourage you to consider your family feeding rituals. What are your family's eating habits teaching your children?

God has blessed parents with a very simple way to reach the hearts of our children. It doesn't have to be complicated, formal, or even happen every day.  Slow down, grab some tacos ,and bring your family to the table.  The family dinner table is a powerful faith formation tool.