How do you energize your conversation around the dinner table? How can you
get to know your family beyond the events in the day? How do you learn together
the truths of God’s word and character? How do you build unity and
understanding within your family? Serving as a catalyst for intentional
conversation, Talk answers each of the questions above.
You will find questions that lead your family to greater depth, greater
understanding and greater unity. It is a potpourri of meaningful beginnings to
extraordinary conversations. It is a book for your dinner table – a book that will
spark rich discussion. As Randy Frazee suggests in Making Room for Life,
“dinner-table conversation is a lost art and practice in our society. Yet it is the
thing we should long for with great intensity.” Randy introduces us to the Latin
word convivium meaning “feast.” “The convivium invites us to feast on whole
foods that nourish our body and to feast on the conversation of those who sit
around the sacred table of community and thus to nourish our minds and souls.”
He urges all of us to make the meal become “the end, not merely
the means.” It is here at the dinner table that we can as a family share life
together. It is a safe place, a resting place, and a beginning place.
As you share a meal together, discuss your day and the events that occurred.
Then, pick and choose from the questions within this tool and share your
thoughts. Talk is a numbered list of over 365 questions that are easy to
understand and quick to ignite conversation around a dinner table. There is no
order to the questions just simple categories. The book is divided into 5 chapters.
Therefore, the questions first center around the individual and then the family.
The third chapter moves them to discussion about their relationship with God.
Next, they have an opportunity to discuss their world – the people, issues and
events of their time. Last, there is a chapter on the future – questions that prompt
them to think about what lies ahead.
I believe Talk will lead your family to a place of greater appreciation and
acceptance of one another as well as a greater understanding of God. Consider
it a wise investment in the future of your family. As George Barna states in
Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, “Various studies have shown
that until children feel loved, accepted, affirmed and engaged, there is limited
hope of seeing significant progress in their development. The family is the most
important player in this drama. Conversation, activity and values that promote
emotional security set the stage for spiritual development.”
Some of the questions might be developmentally beyond the ages of your
children. Certainly, you could skip those and move on to others. But, I encourage
you to share your answers with your children and ask them questions to seek
their understanding. Your children will learn so much as you share your
experiences - your pain, your joy, your questions, and your hopes. Though they
might not have an answer themselves nor appear to be totally getting all that you
are giving, they are listening, watching and wanting to emulate you. They see
that you desire to know them and to be known. I challenge you to share your life
and allow God to use it for his glory.
Talk is an exciting adventure. It makes sharing life together common and
consistent. The dinner table becomes a meeting place where opinions are
shared, dreams are uttered, thoughts are respected, and everyone wins.
I am so excited for you and your family. I pray that Talk becomes a centerpiece
for your dinner table. May it be as important as the butter for your bread and the
dressing for your salad!
Click here to download the TALK questions
Frazee, Randy, Making Room For Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003), 136.
Ibid., 130.
Ibid., 130.
Barna, George, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions (Ventura: Regal Books, 2003),
70-71.
Copyright © The Whole Peach material written by Ron and Karla Hagan. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society