My family has always been important in my life. While growing up we set aside time to be together, to be present in each other's lives, and that was at dinner time. At first it seemed like an inconvenience because none of my friends HAD to be home for dinner, but as I grew up I began to look forward to them. So now, I am broken. I hate to eat dinner alone. In fact, a group of about 7 of us trade making dinner for each other this year.

I chose this prayer to post first because you have to start somewhere. This is the prayer that was first taught in my family. My parents chose it for the family even before there was a family over 30 years ago, but they knew they wanted a prayer that meant something. It was easy to learn, but even if you forgot it was hanging on the wall in the dining room.

I can still hear my siblings and I say the prayer together. Rolling our eyes at the line "we forgive one another," energetically saying "together we HOPE for HEAVEN." And every now and again we would slow down enough to think about the words as we say them. So, now I share my family prayer with you:

God makes us a family
We need one another
We love one another
We forgive one another
We work together
We play together
We worship together
Together we use God’s Word
Together we grow in Christ
Together serve our God
Together we hope for Heaven
These are our hopes and ideals
Help us to obtain them, O God
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord
Amen