The Family Table

This photo is of the breakfast table set to celebrate Anna's sixtieth birthday. The four plates  kept upside  down represented Amy and Arpit and Aswathy and Anandit who could not be present on that occasion, but joined us later. 

Usually, The Family Table has been a conversational time for us, where we talk about ourselves  to each other. We refrained from sharing news or even discussing issues at The Table. We protected this time as a time to relate to each other in an affirming way. There were times when they were less than this. We kept returning to our desire to keep it family centered.

As our children are away in different places now, Anna and I  keep our Family Table as an occasion of remembering children. Since Amy and Aswathy have come into our lives only recently, we love remembering them, sharing our pleasant memories of times spent with them or conversations we would have had with them. We are growing up to receive Arpit and Anandit as adults. However their childhood memories refresh us immensely. 

If young children are at the table, let them lead the conversation. Their interests and experiences ought to be the only focus. One of the parents reading a book for  a short while before or during a meal is a good conversation starter. I hope we will not reduce this time to watch TV unless it is an exception.

When Anna and I are alone at The Table, we will share own experiences to stay connected. It is one occasion, where we find love is shared to  make it a time of communion. There are other times when our physical tiredness may reduce it to be a meal time. But we tell ourselves not to make that as a habit.   

It was Anna's dream to have it this way. It has been a blessing to us.

The Family Table IS NOT just for sharing a meal, but it is a time of COMMUNION. Late Dr.Henry Nouwen used to say, ' The Table and the bed are places of communion for a married couple'

M.C.Mathew(text an photo)