The Significance of Eating Together As One Family

DEAR MJM I think you are right. The proverb you have used is true. In our Indian society we strongly believe this concept. In my family we are having five members and irrespective of our busy schedule and different nature of job we sit together and take our lunch jointly . Doing so it improves relationship with all family members, it also increas belongingness. pkc3000

Interesting that you reworded your topic from the prayer link of the original, because part of that praying together was the symbolic start of every family meal, giving thanks to God for life and the food we were about to eat. For many people, that was how it was when they were kids, while for many, they have never shared that start to their meals, because the family structure of yesteryear is hardly with us today, except in those communities where the very act of sharing a meal is an integral part of their religious way of life. The other problem is that in those days, radio was the main source of incoming information or entertainment, so it did not present the same level of distraction as today's equivalent, with the largest screen probably in the living room, showing a wide variety of entertainment programs. Eating in the living room has replaced the traditional meals at a dining table, and some people have even made sure they can watch their favourites, by having a TV set in just about every room. Bottom line for me is whether the family exists as a unit, relating to each other, supporting each other, true to each other, whether they eat together or not.