Being joyful around the many chores surrounding food is one of the ways I can show love to my family most often.
The planning, shopping for, storing of, preparing, and cleaning up from meals: it’s one of the most time consuming activities in our home. Even when I do things in the “quicker” ways, nothing about the endeavor as a whole is quick.
That’s ok though, fast isn’t the ultimate goal of life. (Reminder to myself.) (And fast to where, exactly, anyway?)
I used to feel like meals were the things I had in-between my real life.
Now I understand, shared meals are a cornerstone for families rich in relationships. They aren’t a bridge in-between moments, but foundational in family life and home culture.
Meals tend to set the pulse in the home. Days with granola-bars-on-the-go inevitably feel rushed and stressy, even if the load and to-do list is light.
Alternatively, a day packed with activity doesn’t feel like a heavy burden when I’ve had an intentional, delicious and healing meal, around the table with my children to set the tone.
Ultimately, when my attitude is one of complaining, I communicate with my mood that one of the most important needs my family has is annoying or burdensome to me.
But when I choose gratitude,
Gratitude to have children and a husband to share meals with
Gratitude for the money to buy our groceries with
Gratitude for a safe home to store our food in
Gratitude for the time at home to be the person preparing meals for my family
it makes the many labors of love around food feel so worth it.