Breaking Bread Together

jgnat

There's a picture in National Geographic - of a family of several generations of Sardinians eating together, eating bread together, that resonates deep in my soul. Sardinians are some of the longest living people on the planet. Something happens when people eat together, I am convinced of it. We build bonds, we are connected. That connectedness, I am convinced, gives us life.

Jesus broke bread with those closest to him. He told them to do likewise. The ancient Isreal tribes did the same. To break bread with a stranger was to invite him to be a stranger no more.

I've resolved to gather my family together at least once a month to eat together. I'm doing it for my soul, I am doing it for my family. I am doing this to connect. It might even extend our life.

http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/62/Healthy_Sardinia.html

I know the deep grief that many of you have gone through, as your family ties have been severed. If you want to do this, why not build a new 'family' of your own, to eat and break bread with?

LeslieV

I agree I don't think anything says family more than eating together. Since I have lost all my family, my family are me and my kids. We have begun to do all the holliday's etc. We eat, laugh, watch movies, and just be. It is awesome.

Leslie

purplesofa

I miss family gatherings......xmas....thanksgiving .......easter........They were the bonding times for my family. I took a stand for the truth and ruined that for us for so many years. And now have done damage that cannot be mended.

purps

jgnat

I think, too, that we can build an extended family, simply by eating together. The early church did it, and now my church does it too. I think people are more relaxed around the table, more likely to be themselves.

LeslieV

Sorry to hear that Purps, but you can begin family traditions for yourself. I have to tell you I am holiday challenged. Didn't have a clue how to do holiday's since I never had them.

I remember the episode of Felicity where they decided to stay at college instead of going home, and invited other college friends and the folks they worked with. No one knew how to cook Turkey or anything, but they all did it together and felt so proud of themselves, and for these kids this was family to them. Sometimes I think we are afraid that we don't know how to cook well, but it isn't even about the food it is the time with one another. Good luck!

Leslie

Honesty

I know the deep grief that many of you have gone through, as your family ties have been severed. If you want to do this, why not build a new 'family' of your own, to eat and break bread with?

Thanks, jg!!!

It is so therapeutic.

It helps a person who has been thrown away by family because he or she didn't happen to agree with the spiritual opinions of a controlling religious organization to cope and recover from the emotional damage that they have suffered just because they wanted to be different.

Xena

What a really nice thought.

choosing life

jgnat,

Good idea. Time to build our own family traditions.

purps,

Ditto. I did the same thing.

jgnat

Here is the picture that so inspired me. I hope it shows up.

compound complex

Greetings jgnat,

Thanx for this great item and the picture of the family at table. It brings back old memories of our huge Sicilian family seated similarly when I was a kid. I inherited that table from my grandparents and have a photo of greatgrandma, grandma and me seated there for my first birthday party! Before my JW days.

CoCo

Breaking Bread Together

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