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SKYLARK'S FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - AN OLD-FASHIONED PRAYER AT THE FAMILY DINNER TABLE
When was the last time you prayed together at your family dinner table? Maybe this Thanksgiving is a good time to begin. We used to do this. When I was growing up, we always said a prayer before dinner. But that's something that seems to have disappeared from our daily routine. Maybe it's time to bring it back. There is power in prayer.
My brother, Kevin, and I enjoy going to church together on Sunday mornings. During the COVID lockdown, many events went online, as did our mass. Because we could no longer attend in person, we began watching the church's live feed on Facebook. Just before 11:00am, I'd grab my cup of coffee and go to Kev's apartment just across the lawn from where I live. For one hour, we'd sit together in front of his ipad and pray. This became our new Sunday ritual. We actually started to look forward to it. I think rituals are important because they create discipline and focus, and they become something that helps to shape us. Rituals can be a shared experience that give our lives meaning and a sense of purpose. Rituale!
So, when did praying at the family dinner table begin? Often, Christian families had their family devotional at the dinner table either before or after the meal. Families prayed together over prayer lists the mothers kept organized and updated. The ritual of a family dinner was a cherished chore for mothers because it was done in love for her husband and children. This may seem very old-fashioned, but it was a ritual that was part of the daily family routine. On Thanksgiving, I like to go around the table and ask each person what they're grateful for. This is a form of ritualistic prayer, too.
Before the late 18th century, it was difficult for American families to dine together regularly, in part because dining rooms and dining tables were not yet a thing. Rooms and tables had multiple uses, and families would eat in shifts, if necessary. If there weren't enough chairs for all members of the family, the men would sit and the women and children might stand, coming and going from the table. I wonder when it became customary for the man to give up his seat to a woman. I'll research that for another article. I digress. The rise of the American family dinner depended upon the arrival of the dining table, and the dining room, from Europe, where they had been embraced since Elizabethan times. One of the first American homes to have a room specifically meant for dining was Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, built in 1772. The dining room, with the dining table at its center, began to be incorporated into wealthy homes across the country, eventually trickling down to the middle class. The dining room is still considered a formal room.
On this Thanksgiving Day, most of us will gather around our dining room table with family and friends to celebrate the abundance in our lives and give thanks for our blessings. When my Grandpa Joe had Thanksgiving in his "dining room" basement in Rockaway, we'd set up a large aluminum table and put a handmade tablecloth on it. This was a ritual that endured throughout my childhood. Maybe this Thanksgiving you can call upon those old-fashioned family rituals that can become something to embrace again. Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving. Mangia!
Peace and Love,
Skylark
At 60 and Beyond, we can resurrect old family rituals that need a little dusting off and make them new again.
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SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - OLD WESTBURY GARDENS
I've mentioned Old Westbury Gardens before, but this place is worth revisiting. Beginning November 25 and running through January 1, 2023, the gardens come to life with Shimmering Solstice; a spectacular event that lights up the gardens. For more information, please visit www.oldwestburygardens.org.
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SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR YOU by DIONNE WARWICK
The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup (makeup)
I say a little prayer for you
And while combing my hair now
And wondering what dress to wear now (wear now)
I say a little prayer for you
(Forever) forever (forever) yeah
(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you)
(Forever) forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together, (together) together
(That's how it must be, to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me) Ooh
I run for the bus, dear
When while riding I think of us, dear (us, dear)
I say a little prayer for you
And at work I just take time
And all through my coffee break time (break time)
I say a little prayer for you
(Forever) forever (forever) and ever
(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you)
(Forever) forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together, (together) together
(That's how it must be, to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)
Nobody but me
(Forever) forever (and ever) ever
(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you)
(Forever) forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together, (together) together
(That's how it must be to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)
My darling, believe me (believe me)
For me there is no one but you
Please love me true
I'm in love with you (answer my prayer)
Answer my prayer, baby (answer my prayer)
Say you'll love me true (answer my prayer)
Answer my prayer, baby (answer my prayer)
(Forever) forever (and ever) ever
(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you) ever
(Forever) forever (and ever) ever
(We never will part, oh, how I love you)
(Together) together, (together) together
(That's how it must be to live without you)
(Would only mean heartbreak for me)
Oh, nobody but me
My darling, believe me (believe me)
For me there is no one but you
Please love me true
This is my prayer (answer my prayer)
Answer my prayer now, baby (answer my prayer, baby)
This is my prayer (answer my prayer, baby)
Answer it right now, baby (answer my prayer, baby)
Say you'll love me true (answer my prayer, baby)
This is my prayer, baby (answer my prayer, baby)
I'm in love with you (answer my prayer)
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I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write articles geared to the 60 and beyond population. Topics include human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to in and around Bay Shore. I also write about restaurants and stores in the area. You can also watch my first Monday-of-the-month vlog, “60 and Beyond with Skylark" on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live, that features topics covered in my articles from SLTN. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel as well as my free STLN newsletter that gets delivered directly to your email each Wednesday morning. To support SLTN, you can make a recurring monthly donation ($5 Friend or $15 Advocate) or a one-time donation of any amount. It's up to you, and it's easy to do on my feed. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.
