Big Blessings Around Little Snack Tables

In our family, food is the way to everyone’s heart. Full bellies create happy people, especially in children. There is nothing better than sharing a meal with someone you love and enjoying good company and conversation, no matter your age.

For me, that was brought to light when my son, at age three, first expressed his interest in “school.” I was shocked at the time! Scared, excited and to be honest, maybe even a little hurt. Was this him saying he didn’t enjoy spending his days with me and his baby sister? She is only 20 months younger and required a lot of attention then! I wasn’t sure how to feel, but I began my search for a school.

From many friend recommendations, we scheduled a tour at Prince of Peace Preschool just North of Battle Ground, WA. At the time we were going through a very stressful building situation during the height of Covid. It was mid-March when I scheduled my tour at the school halfway through the school year. I had been told many times that normally a mid-year tour would not have been possible. It was unheard of that they had space in the middle of the year. Enrollment was down because of Covid but I took it as a sign that God truly thought this could be the place for us.

After a very long tour (I was that parent–the one that stayed, and not just for a little while, for multiple hours) just observing my son, engaging with the other children, and getting to know the staff, I could tell my son seemed to be in a little piece of heaven. It wasn’t until I saw this small group of little three-year-olds sit around their tiny table with their tiny blue chairs, tiny hands folded preparing their hearts for snack time that I fell in love as their teacher led their snack prayer:

For the food we eat.

For the friends we meet.

For the life we live each day.

For the challenges we find.

For strength of mind.

We thank you, Lord, today.

Amen.

Watching these three-year-olds have a tiny grasp on being so thankful for their friends, this snack time, and saying grace together was all it took for me to know this was the place for our family. We enrolled that day and never looked back.

Prince of Peace became a second home for us. A place where I knew my son was safe and loved. A place where I knew I could bring my rambunctious toddler and let her join in during snack time and more while I met other Mommas and staff. We enjoyed a family space at every party, celebration, or get-together that was held. All centered around that snack time prayer together each time. It became so close to home and so close to my heart that when an opportunity to work there came I prayed for days, wondering if I was good enough to be a part of their snack time, every day.

As my children have worked their way through the POP school program they’ve made many friends, had different teachers, and had an abundance of new experiences but their snack time has always stayed true. It’s taught them what it means to give grace to God for all that we have. We still continue to say this snack prayer at home around our family table, just ready and willing to receive a full belly and happy hearts together.

Amanda is a local Preschool & Kindergarten Director at Prince of Peace (website, Facebook, and Instagram). She has a love for children and a heart for Jesus. She and her husband Zane enjoy raising their two young children on a small piece of property just north of Battle Ground, WA. Supported by a large surrounding family they enjoy sharing many family suppers, gatherings, snacks, and more around their homemade dining room table that Zane crafted when they first moved into their new home. The table is 9ft long and can sit 12 comfortably. It was Amanda’s biggest dream to have an extra-large table to gather around. Although it may be larger in size, it reminds her of these tiny tables she sees every day filled with children when she goes to work. A table full of love, fun, excitement, and Jesus’ many blessings.

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