Are you struggling to keep the house clean, get the meals made, run the errands, finish the deadlines, or even get all the homework done?

Oh, I remember those days so well. It seemed there was always something important to conquer, a project to be made, and children to be tended to. I had a plaque that hung in my house back then that read

“Cleaning the house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”

Yes, certainly a great reminder to slow down and enjoy those little ones. I wish I could tell you I got it right all the time, but I didn’t.

I would get frustrated while juggling it all and miss those precious moments. Looking back, there are always things we’d love to change, right? However, I am thankful for the times I got it right. Especially the times we enjoyed each other’s company by just simply being together. No agenda. No deadline. No rushing.

As my son is just a few months away from college graduation and saying “I do,” I think I’ve gone a little sentimental. My heart wants to hug you young moms out there and say, “enjoy these moments!”

Yes, there are days when it seems like this season will never end. But in reality, it ends all too soon. And before you know it your babies will be getting engaged just like mine recently did.

Crazy, I know, but time really does fly by – so think about how you can slow your schedule for a minute and build moments together.

One of the best ways for the busy family to bond is to have planned family meals and gather around the table. You might not all get to sit down at the dinner table every evening together, but I bet there are a few days a week you can make that happen.

Family meals are a great way to connect a family. It’s easy to make those moments happen:

1. Plan which days your family dinners will be.

2. Put those days on the calendar and post it where the family will be reminded.

3. Pick a favorite family recipe and prepare the meal together.

4. Power down by turning off all electronics – tv, phones, internet connections – and enjoy your time together.

5. Linger over dinner.

6. Talk about what’s going on, plans coming up, and just laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

I can guarantee, you will not regret it! That precious love that is shared will never be forgotten, no matter how many deadlines you miss or rooms you don’t get cleaned.

There is a quote on the wall above our kitchen table that says, “Fondest memories are made when gathered around the table.” It is so true! Think back to Jesus’ words found in John 6:33 NIV

“For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

The bread of God is what gives us life. What better way to ensure our kids are healthy on the word of God than to build time in to our chaotic schedules to speak truth into their lives.

And I wonder, what better time could there be to talk about the Bread of Life than over the bread at our family tables?