A little while back I’d suggested that a way to talk about faith with your kids was to make family dinner a priority. (Click on “family dinner” to read that post.)
Sometimes getting conversation going at the table can be tough, especially for older kids. Here’s an idea:
Before dinner glance at this brief post from “HuffPost Family Dinner Downloads.”
HuffPost? What’s that?
In the words of the editors…
Every Friday afternoon, just in time for dinner, our editors highlight one of the most compelling news stories of the week — stories that will spark a lively discussion among the whole family.
This particular HuffPost Family Dinner Download happens to be about eating healthy and about one particular retailer (amazingly enough) agreeing to help with that effort especially for folks with limited incomes. Lots of room for various discussion – there are even questions provided to spark conversation!
But where is “faith” in this discussion?
Glad you asked? To tie your discussion to our current Rotation at at FUMC, bring up the question: What did John the Baptist eat?
The answer: locusts and wild honey! (Matthew 3:4) Yum?
Here are some other questions to discuss:
- Do you suppose people thought John was strange? Why do you think that?
- Do you suppose that his strange diet (and his strange clothes) were what drew people to him?
- Oh, so why else did they want to listen to what John the Baptist had to say? And what was it he was saying/doing?
- John the Baptist baptized with water. What are some ways water gives and sustains life in the world?
- Why is water a symbol of what God does for us at baptism?
If your children have been baptized, tell them about it. If they haven’t been baptized, discuss baptisms they’ve seen. Enjoy your family dinner!
Photo credits:
Dinner table photo by vizzzual-dot-com, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.
Family Faith Companion 