whatever

As my two sons and I sat down to our dinner of macaronin and cheese with salad, we were discussing integrity and initiative. It was a light and fun conversation, and it is always

interesting to get a young man's perspective on things.

As we were chatting, I was reminded again how precious meal times are. They are not

simply a time for eating. They are opportunities for fun, conversation,

memory remembering or making, building up and teaching.

Whatever

we do can,

and

should

be done for His glory.

Every part of every day

can be used for self,

for waste

or for eternity.

Not in a frantic, desperate sort of way, but rather a gentle, intentional

careful choice manner - to deliberately live a full and abundant life, enjoying purposeful living.

Mealtimes with toddlers are often chaotic and noisy.

Yet you can still be modelling and gently encouraging

the manners and meal time patterns you wish to see in the future.

It will take time, as with all areas of parenting, but the fruit

will be happy, peaceful and holy conversations - over meals!

Little Men - Louisa May Alcott

"Demi was one of the children who show plainly the effect of intelligent love and care, for soul and body worked harmoniously together.

The natural refinement which nothing but home influences can teach, gave him sweet and simple manners; his mother had cherished an innocent and loving heart in him; his father had watched over the physical growth of his body, and kept the litte body straight and strong on wholesome food and exercise and sleep, while Grandma March cultivated the little mind with tender wisdom of a modern day Pythagoras - not tasking it with long, hard lessons, parrot-learned, but helping it to unfod as naturally and beautifully as sun and dew help roses bloom.

He was not a perfect child, by any means, but his faults were of the better sort; and being early taught the secret of self-control, he was not left at the mercy of appetite and passions, as some poor little mortals are, and then punished for yielding to temptations against which they have no armour.

A quiet, quaint boy was Demi, serious yet cheery, quite unconscious that he was unusually bright and beautiful, yet quick to see and love intelligence or beauty in other children."

page 19 LITTLE MEN Louisa May Alcott