Just a short hiatus, please? I don’t know if you caught the news some years ago—an American icon, Barbara Billingsley, passed to eternal life (2010). Probably many don’t know her as anyone else but June Cleaver. June, Ward, Wally and the “Beav.” Talk about a journey back to my late childhood—Leave it to Beaver. You just have to picture it: there was June in apron and pearls, Ward was at the head of the table in tie and sweater (his suit coat was neatly hung in the hall closet.) Wally and the Beav wore shirt and tie. The green bean casserole was steaming, everyone was on time and that time was sacred. This was true even in my own family. The evening meal was non-negotiable; show –up or you better be in bed and really sick (the Vicks VapoRub, assifidious bag knotted around your neck).
Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use. This is a win-win, and I'm not psychic, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
“This is where a family builds its identity and culture. Legends are passed down, jokes rendered, eventually the wider world examined through the lens of a family's values. In addition, younger kids pick up vocabulary and a sense of how conversation is structured. They hear how a problem is solved, learn to listen to other people's concerns and respect their tastes. ‘A meal is about sharing. ‘"
So where did all of this come from? I was reading (New York) Cardinal Tim Dolan’s blog from a few weeks ago—it was his topic and an oft-proposed and workable solution. We all have to eat--why not give it a try and eat together?
(Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen)