Breaking Bread

by Desi Ash


A meal.

When I was growing up dinner time was a big deal. Let me paint you a picture of a typical night:

    ·        One of the four kids, me or my brothers, would be picked to clear and set the table. From plates and silverware to getting everyone’s drinks.

·        Mom would bring the food to the table and whoever was lucky would get to tell everyone else it was time to eat.

·        We ALWAYS had to wash our hands before dinner and we couldn’t take a bite until everyone was seated and served. Then we would eat and share stories of our day and no one could leave the table until everyone was done eating and you asked to be excused.

·        After permission was granted you took your table settings to the kitchen. Then one unlucky kid had to help load the dishwasher and clear the table.

This was dinner, every night, that same routine.

A meal.

Jesus knew that His arrest and death were coming and He took the time to have a meal with His disciples.

We don’t know all the details of the Last Supper, but we do know that Jesus sat around a table and celebrated the Passover with his disciples.

·        The disciples found the house and got prepared for the Passover.

·        The disciples possibly fought over who was going to sit where and argued over seconds.

·        I’m sure they laughed together and enjoyed being in the moment.

·        They closed with what we know as Communion and a hymn.

A meal.

In middle school our meal routine changed. The schedule with four kids was pretty busy with someone needing to be somewhere every night of the week. Instead of the every night routine it became Sunday dinner that was special and followed the routine.

Then before I knew it family dinner didn’t exist. The family dynamic had changed; between my dad moving out and my older brother graduating, to sports, music, and friends becoming so important. Dinner became a time where you ate maybe with one other person, sometimes by yourself, and hardly ever as the family.

A meal.

The Last Supper. The last time Jesus would gather around a table with His best friends. The last time they would be together as that group. Life for the disciples was about to dramatically change.  

We don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

In the craziness of life- the schedules of your children, meeting work deadlines, keeping in touch with family and friends- sometimes the simple things can be forgotten.

This week, as we prepare for Easter, follow Jesus’ example; hit pause on life, clear off the table, and have a meal together. Don’t put it off until next week because there won’t always be a tomorrow. Before you know it your kids will be graduating and starting life on their own.  

Once you get everyone around the table, you can use some of these discussion starters to help get your kids to open up and talk.

Discussion starters:

·        What was the best (or worst) thing that happened today?

·        What’s your most embarrassing moment of the day?

·        If you had $100 (or $1000, etc) to spend, how would you spend it?

·        What are three things that you are grateful for today?

·        How can we be praying for you?