Hospitality and eating at home aren't very popular today. Eating at a restaurant can not come close to eating at home. There is not one advantage except the homemaker doesn't have to make the meal and clean up but this is her job and ministry to her family and others. I know some people who eat all of their meals outside of their home!
Eating at home is cheaper, healthier, warmer, quieter and way more cozy than any restaurant. There is a wonderful article called In Defense of Domesticity that I hope you all read. "Sitting by the
crackling fire with your family on a cold night, reading to your son as he
cuddles in your lap, Christmas gatherings … you get the idea. Although it’s
usually translated as 'coziness,' it’s much more than that. It’s an attitude
toward life, a way of being. And real coziness is not possible apart from a
love and respect for homemaking ...Like anything worth doing, authentic coziness
takes work: prior investment in relationships, domestic chores, food-prep,
caring—in a word, housekeeping. But it’s worth it. In the doldrums of a dark
winter, family nights, social gatherings, and dinner parties are a reminder
that we’re all in this together."
In God's Word, we are commanded to be hospitable. This means we have people in our home and are responsible for taking good care of them. Included in this is feeding them good food. Yes, this takes time and money but it is time and money well-spent. My favorite thing in the world to do is to sit around my table and eat a nutritious meal with my family or friends.
We are created for relationship and it is easy to be lonely in today's culture of busyness. Eating and talking with each other is a treasured tradition in many cultures and is timeless. It should be a big part of all of our families since this can be a time of sharing and caring for each other.
Recently, I went out for my mom's 85th birthday. We went to a nice restaurant but it was so noisy that we had to shout to each other to be heard. A few days before this, Ken and I went with another couple on our favorite Saturday morning walk on the beach and then to a restaurant for breakfast. Again, it was so noisy we had to shout at each other to be heard. This is not enjoyable for me at all.
On the other side, a week ago I had two women from the chat room and their husbands over for dinner. It was so quiet and enjoyable sitting around my table eating home-cooked food. Afterwards, we went into the family room and talked for a long time. Being in a home is so much more quiet and intimate. Plus, the food is much more healthy if your goal is to fix nourishing food. I was at my son's home last week as well. His two year old son asked if I wanted to eat dinner there. Erin fixed a yummy, nutritious meal and we all sat around just having wonderful conversation together. This is my most favorite thing to do!
Even Jesus had His final Passover meal in the upper room of a home where it was quiet. Our culture is too busy running here and there to take time to fix nourishing food and sit around the table at home. Fast food was invented when mothers left their homes to pursue careers trying to make their lives "easier." All this accomplished was poorer health and fewer children being raised by their mothers; zero net gain.
Women, take time to feed your family nourishing meals around the table. Let the conversation be encouraging and uplifting. Have a rule of no TVs, computers, or phones on during the meal. These times will be what your children love best about growing up. I still remember the times around my family table when my mom would fix food straight from her garden for us. Those meals were the best! Others loved coming to our home since my mom was always home and had yummy, nourishing food. She loved feeding people!
Yes, it takes more time but it is time well-spent. This is part of the ministry the Lord has given to us for our family and others! It's a huge part of being hospitable and making your home cozy.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalm 128:3
Recently, I went out for my mom's 85th birthday. We went to a nice restaurant but it was so noisy that we had to shout to each other to be heard. A few days before this, Ken and I went with another couple on our favorite Saturday morning walk on the beach and then to a restaurant for breakfast. Again, it was so noisy we had to shout at each other to be heard. This is not enjoyable for me at all.
On the other side, a week ago I had two women from the chat room and their husbands over for dinner. It was so quiet and enjoyable sitting around my table eating home-cooked food. Afterwards, we went into the family room and talked for a long time. Being in a home is so much more quiet and intimate. Plus, the food is much more healthy if your goal is to fix nourishing food. I was at my son's home last week as well. His two year old son asked if I wanted to eat dinner there. Erin fixed a yummy, nutritious meal and we all sat around just having wonderful conversation together. This is my most favorite thing to do!
Even Jesus had His final Passover meal in the upper room of a home where it was quiet. Our culture is too busy running here and there to take time to fix nourishing food and sit around the table at home. Fast food was invented when mothers left their homes to pursue careers trying to make their lives "easier." All this accomplished was poorer health and fewer children being raised by their mothers; zero net gain.
Women, take time to feed your family nourishing meals around the table. Let the conversation be encouraging and uplifting. Have a rule of no TVs, computers, or phones on during the meal. These times will be what your children love best about growing up. I still remember the times around my family table when my mom would fix food straight from her garden for us. Those meals were the best! Others loved coming to our home since my mom was always home and had yummy, nourishing food. She loved feeding people!
Yes, it takes more time but it is time well-spent. This is part of the ministry the Lord has given to us for our family and others! It's a huge part of being hospitable and making your home cozy.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
Psalm 128:3
