Many of us have memories of our grandparents that made their family table particularly special. Ted Cunningham, author of Come to the Family Table, asked friends on Facebook to share their favorite memories around grandma’s table, and he was overwhelmed with responses. Over a hundred people left a memory of grandma.
Here, Ted shares twelve things that can be learned at grandma’s table. In his book, Ted unpacks each of these points with heartwarming stories from people who responded to his Facebook question. Hopefully you’ll rekindle a few memories reading through this list, and be inspired to create some of your own–whether or not you are a grandmother.
The family table:
- Is where we make room for others
- Is where we play games
- Is where secrets are kept
- Is where we honor our elders
- Is where we indulge from time to time
- Can be thrifty
- Is where we learn to laugh at ourselves
- Cultivates adventurous culinary spirits
- Has scraps for everyone
- Inspires us to do the best with what we have
- Shares recipes
- Ignites our faith and gives us a place to come back to.
Author and speaker Sundi Jo Graham, a friend of Ted and Amy Cunningham, reminds us that life around the table is where our faith is forged:
“I remember a season of my childhood where we would have family brunches around the large dining room table in my grandmother’s Victorian-style house. She always made homemade biscuits. As a lonely child, I desired those family meals every day. I couldn’t wait for Sundays. But my grandma was a bitter woman most of my life, and our family meals abruptly stopped.
Fourteen years ago I ran away from my hometown, vowing I’d never go back. But God has changed that, and He’s slowly changing the hearts of my family—including my grandma. In the last year, she has devoted her life to Jesus, and there’s a peace I’ve never seen in her. She’s traded her bitter heart for joy.
In a recent conversation, after announcing with many tears that I was moving back, I asked her, “If I move back, can we start having Sunday brunches again like we used to?”
She smiled and said, “Yes.”
It’s a picture of God’s love for me. I look forward to those homemade biscuits, but more importantly, I look forward to getting to know the grandma I’ve always desired to have, around the table.”
Disciple-Makers, what about you? What lessons do you relate to in this list? Or what would you add? As we prepare to celebrate with family, we would love to hear from you.
My grandmother, on my father’s side of the family, was a widow. She raised 5 children on her own. This was shortly after the great depression in 1929. Things were tight, but she found a way to manage raising 5 God fearing children.
As a child, my parents would take us to Grandma’s house once month to have a family dinner. Grandma always made home-made pierogies. They were awesome! What’s not to like about mashed potatoes and cheese stuffed into a pasta-like shell? After boiling them they were sauteed in browned butter and onions! For some reason my Grandmother always insisted on having buttermilk with this meal. So on the way to Grandma’s house my parents would pick some up.
It was only a simple meal consisting basically of flour and potatoes. But that meal brought us all together once a month!
It was only in adulthood that my parents told me that each of her 5 children were contributing money each month to my Grandmother. They also made sure her utility bills were paid each month. Now that is what I call respecting your parents!
My parents also made sure we went to church every Sunday. I went to Sunday school, whether I liked it or not.
All this gave me a firm foundation in living God and family.
I will never forget these fond memories. 🙂
Read the preview and will give to my children for Christmas. Thanks for sharing…