Ang magiliw na salita ay nagpapasigla sa buhay, ngunit ang matalas na pangungusap ay masakit sa kalooban.

Mga Kawikaan 15:4

Sobrang nakaka-relate si Gianne sa lyrics ng kanta na nagsasabing sigawan daw ang almusal, tampuhan ang hapunan, at pagdududa naman ang meryenda. Paano naman, tuwing magkasamang kumakain ang pamilya ay hindi malabong magtalo ang parents niya. Their family has been so used to hurting each other with negative words kaya naman nakikita lang niya ang pagkain as means to feed her body but never a happyexperience with her family.

Pero napakalaki ng benefit ng sharing a meal with our family. It is a place kung saan maraming pangarap ang nagsisimula, maraming kwentuhan ang nagaganap, at maraming mga family concerns ang nadi-discuss. It is also an opportunity to bless others and to be joyful in each other’s company.

Kahit si Jesus ay mahilig kumain kasama ang mga taong tinuturuan at ini-encourage Niya. Nagbibigay Siya ng oras kahit sa mga bago pa lang Niyang kakilala. It is one of His ways to cultivate deep, meaningful relationships with the people around Him and most especially, His disciples (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 7:36; John 21:12).

Sabi sa Kawikaan 18:21, “Ang buhay at kamatayan ay sa dila nakasalalay, makikinabang ng bunga nito ang dito ay nagmamahal.” Kaya pala napakahalaga for us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger para magkaroon ng peaceful resolution sa mga nagiging pagtatalo (Santiago 1:19). We can control our tongue to make mealtimes with our family pleasant. We can build others up instead of tearing them down.

Gianne was able to break from her mindset about mealtimes when she met friends who used encouraging and gentle words in their conversation. Now, she’s the one sharing this culture with her family.