It's not necessarily a quiet, peaceful time, with six people sharing the highs and lows of their day. But most of the time, it's fun.

The evening meal is an important time for us. In a busy household, it can be the only time we are all together, connecting and conversing with one another.

What we have discovered through our own experience, as well as through research, is the lasting impact of the family sharing in a meal.

It's more than the practicality of making sure each person has eaten a solid meal. The dinner table is a place where we learn and teach family values, where our children learn how to listen to, connect with and respect others.

We learn how to disagree without disconnecting, how to take turns, how to honour each other.

We have a no holds barred approach to conversation at the dinner table. We talk about anything.

The 'birds and bees' talk? That's not a one-time, separate event behind closed doors in our house. That happens over multiple conversations - at the dinner table.

Research has shown the lasting impact of the regular family meal on the development of children and teens.

Having a meal together at least four to five days per week aids in building resilience, emotional well-being, healthy connection and resisting peer influence.

Having dinner together isn't just something we do, it's a part of who we are.

Don't get me wrong: it's not always idyllic and serene! But we love being with each other. We enjoy getting to know each other, especially as our children grow and learn new things.

This is one aspect I love about Jesus: He loved joining people for a meal. One of his first miracles was at a wedding feast. He wasn't afraid to invite himself over to somebody's house, and taught incredible things around the table. Most importantly, he didn't leave anyone out. He chose to eat with the outcast, the downtrodden, rejected and forgotten.

Jesus messed with the political and religious leaders by sharing with those nobody else loved.

Jesus used the table to welcome people who had nowhere else to belong, and to reveal things of the kingdom everyone needed to know.

May your table be a place of discovery, connection and belonging. However messy, crazy and loud it might be.