Webbijbel
Gert-Jan Van Zanten
The Lessons of
Life were Taught and Remembered Around the Kitchen Table
Written by: Joanne Beckley
Our big kitchen table occupied the center of our home with dignity.
Much more than a place for family meals, it was also the site of our
family’s recreation, education and discipline. It was the center of
our home where we played together, studied our Bibles together or
shared reading aloud many good children’s books. Houses and roads
built of Legos, a sheet thrown over the table to create a tent, or a
game of dominos –– they all took their turn at our table. The table
was often piled with books as the boys did their homework there.
When electricity was not available, the evenings took full heed to
silence because Dad was at the table, preparing his sermons. Dad
could not study with distractions around him and three sons and a
wife were definite distractions.
Our dinners were filled with reports of the day’s observations and
activities, with praise freely given when deserved. Because we all
liked to be heard, the supper table wasn’t a quiet place –– the boys
often arguing, telling tales on each other and loudly competing for
attention, or Mom jumping up to refer to the encyclopedia to solve
an argument. Dad tolerated the noise . . . to a point. When that
point came activity was reduced to furtive glares and kicks and
meaningful looks from Mom.
The boys honed their personalities around the table, battling
fiercely for recognition. They learned the "thou-shalt-nots" of
life, and the "love-one-another" rule, too. They also learned the
rules of behavior after being banished to their rooms for a rude
remark, sometimes a complaint concerning the food, or when Dad had
"had enough." At the table they learned that sometimes life was not
always fair.
Likewise, they learned that the injustices of life need not hold
them back; that honors earned but not bestowed need not cause
despair. Our kitchen table helped to prepare them to face the world
with confidence. Through life at our table, our boys became aware of
their responsibilities to society, the satisfaction of achievement,
the necessity for authority and the joy of belonging.
Our table was large enough for us to gather around, but small enough
to keep us close. Our table, like our home, instilled in each of us
the worth of the individual and the gift of love for each other.
“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine
heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou
walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest
up” Deut.6:6-7
Do write and tell me about your kitchen table.
