The family table is one of the most important places in the home. It can be a place to be fed physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Don’t you find it interesting that there was a table with food and drink in the temple and one of the sacraments of the Church is around the communion table?  Jesus often used gathering around food to teach and satisfy. One of the last times He spoke intimately with his disciples was around the table. Food and fellowship are important!

The family table should be a priority. Not a priority in elegance or gourmet food, but a priority as a place to gather together, break bread together and reconnect.  You may not be able to do it every day, but on a regular basis it should be something the family looks forward to.

There are seasons of life that we are doing good just to get food cooked and on the table. Those seasons may be filled with paper plates, spilled cups and fussy babies and that is OK. Don’t set the bar so high that you and your family are miserable.

I would like to encourage you to set a few days a year aside as something extra special around the table. It will take some planning and extra work but it will help foster a love for the table and for special family times.  Part of what we love about Christmas is the food, family gatherings and decorations. It creates memories that all of us carry fondly (and sometimes not so fondly).

Here are a few tips for making the family table more memorable this Easter:

• Plan your menu early in the week, don’t get overwhelmed with trying a bunch of new things. If you are new to making the family table special keep the menu simple.
• Cook anything you can ahead of time and freeze it.  Casseroles and most desserts freeze well.
• Prepare table decorations a couple days ahead and set them out of the way.
• Make Ahead Brunch Ideas

Involve Your Children

• It may be as simple as picking some flowers, folding napkins, making special place-cards or being responsible for one of the foods to be served.
• Make sure everyone cleans up. even little ones can do simple things like helping clear the table, wiping off the chairs, etc…
• Coach them during the week what is good table manners and pleasant conversation.
• Encourage the children to say thank you to whoever cooked.
• Involve them, they need to be a part!

Don’t Get Frustrated

• Don’t get frustrated when the food doesn’t come out right, it happens to all of us!
• Don’t get frustrated when no one appreciates the extra hard work you put into it.
• Don’t get frustrated when table manners are lacking, just work on them, slowly and patiently.
• Do it as unto the Lord and remember you are fostering a pleasant table experience.

• More important than the beauty of the table, or the taste of the food are the hearts and souls around the table.  Have some pleasant conversation topics ready.
• If negative statements are made be ready to humbly counter it with something positive.
• Set an example of always saying thank you to whoever cooked or helped set the table.

When Is Not So Important

• Because half of our children are adults now and everyone has conflicting schedules I am doing our Easter brunch on Saturday.
• We have one day a week when I usually set the table nice, it’s usually when we invite our adult kids over. We also make a big deal about birthdays.  Just do what works for you, even if it is just once a month.
• Why We Must Celebrate

Some Table Decorating Ideas

These are nice at each place setting.

This would be cute with an poem or verse,

and even with a paper or tissue flower for the rail.