wow winter 2016

CLASSIC HOMECOOKING with Dora Sanders Hill
The Dinner Table Initiative
A
brand new year has
graced us once again!
2016 carries with it so
much hope and so much
expectation. I can’t wait to
see what “new” revelation
we will gain; a chance to grow, learn and
improve upon our quality of life. I think
when it comes down to it, we’re all just
taking a lifelong class. We are in school,
different subjects, different classmates, and
always a Teacher. And like most
students, sometimes we listen to the
teacher and at other times, we just
ignore them. It’s a lot more fun to
focus on what the other students are
doing, and forget that we are really
here to learn something new and to
grow.
The Bible says that there is nothing
new under the sun. I’m a firm believer that
old things become new and new things
become old. Simple things become deep
things as we revisit the strategies that keep
us grounded and connected to those things
that have real value in our lives. That’s why
it is so important for us to spend some time
with a sage person; wiser and older person,
if you will. While we are busy trying to
come up with new answers to old questions,
they have a wealth of knowledge, born of
experience, that can lead us to the best path.
I remember those times around the
dinner table, just being able to ask a
question of my mom or dad. “What school
did you go to mom?” “Did you guys have
big schools or little schools?” Of course we
have all heard the “I had to walk 15 miles
through the snow tales” from a relative or
two. But more than just the stories, during
those times around the dinner table, real
The Dinner Table Initiative is
a national initiative to invite
families back to the dinner table.
knowledge was handed down. History
was taught, legacy was shared, faith was
instilled, and hope was inspired. Meal after
meal, after meal; the dinner table became
a place of empowerment as family values
were formed and care for our fellow man
became a mandate. Each time we sat down
to eat, we thanked God for our food and
we asked him to bless those who were
less fortunate. Thinking about these times
became the “aha moment” for The Dinner
Table Initiative.
The Dinner Table Initiative is a national
initiative to invite families back to the
dinner table. The target weekend is the
first weekend in January, 1st-3rd 2016. On
this weekend families around the country
will come together at the “Dinner Table,”
for a meal; to laugh, to encourage, to share
stories, history, legacy, hope, to strengthen
our love for family and community. January
is the kick off month for what will be
an ongoing initiative. Throughout the
year pictures, stories and ideas can be
shared on social media with the hash
tag #TheDinnerTableInitiative.
How easy it is for us to get off
course as we make our way through
this journey called life. Always in our
hearts, looking for the best path and a
good field to grow and nurture our families.
We call it “Lifestyle.”
Lifestyles are always being reinvented.
Year after year we reinvent how we do
family and life. It seems that the more stuff
we have the better our life will be…the
“walk-in” closet is a perfect example. They
were created to accommodate more clothes
than we could possibly wear; clothes and
stuff. Oh my! We needed bigger barns, and
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WOW! MAGAZINE | WINTER 2016 | 45