Stronger families foster stronger communities.
In an era of “can I have that to-go” and “eating on the run” most of us make a major effort to slow down on the third Thursday of November, Thanksgiving Day, to enjoy our holiday dinners with our families. We set the table and together enjoy God’s gracious bounty. Good food, lively conversation, and thankful hearts make memories that last a lifetime.
Sadly, the average family is going in so many directions that the tradition of sitting down together for a family meal has gone by the wayside… except perhaps for Thanksgiving Day. Do you want your children to do better in school, get higher SAT scores, keep out of trouble? The common thread in every answer to those questions is reinstituting the ritual of regularly shared meals.
Enter the “Grace Before Meals” movement. Grace Before Meals is centered on one fundamental concept: the simple act of creating and sharing a meal can strengthen all kinds of relationships. Research shows that having frequent family dinners can reduce the susceptibility of teens to risks like teen pregnancy, smoking, drug use and depression. These benefits don’t just apply to traditional families or people with kids. Stronger families foster stronger communities.
Father Leo, Founder of "Grace Before Meals"
Founded by Chef, Blogger, TV Host and Priest, Father Leo Patalinghug in 2003, Grace Before Meals has grown from a simple idea to a worldwide movement. Ordained in 1999 and serving as a parish priest for five years at St. John’s Church in Westminster, Maryland, Father Leo was often invited to his parishioners’ homes for dinner. Instead of being just a guest, he would take those opportunities to turn the table and cook for them, building friendships and engaging in relaxed conversations in the kitchen. These wonderful experiences provided the inspiration for Father Leo’s first book, Grace Before Meals: Recipes for Family Life.
Currently, Father Leo is a member of the faculty at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, where he directs the Pastoral Field Education Program for future priests.
Be sure to check out Father Leo’s website and give some thought to using the dinner table to help draw your family closer. Here are a few of Father Leo’s suggestions from his site: Grace Before Meals, that will help you incorporate the GBM philosophy into your daily life:
- Eat meals with my family five days per week (or as many as possible).
- Engage the family in conversation while preparing meals.
- Say Grace before each meal.
- Turn off the TV while eating dinner.
- Introduce interesting topics for the family to discuss at mealtime.
- Tell Friends and Family about the Grace Before Meals Movement.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. May this be the beginning of some amazing new family traditions.
Posted by:Linda Hawkinson
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the holidays and celebrating with family. I just wish more of our family lived locally so we could all gather ’round the table. Yes, these days the weekly meal concept is a challenge!
Nice post! I especially love the challenge to have 5 meals a week with the family. Great idea. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
It’s a tough day and age that we live in. It takes a lot of work to hang on to old traditions, but it seems like young moms are making a big effort to try… and that’s encouraging.
Very nice. This will be an inspiration to all!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well!