My thoughts grew deep, for in my own home we did not observe Shabbat. Friday night was just like any other night, kids running in and out and a quick take-out dinner.

I decided I was going to turn our mundane Friday night into a Shabbat experience. I knew that this would take some coordinating, so I started early in the week. I discussed the idea with my husband. He was sold when I offered to make him chicken soup, just like his mother makes. My two teenagers needed more convincing; a family Shabbat dinner was not their ideal Friday night activity. So I resorted to bribery.

My son, age 16, loves mashed potatoes and driving. So I promised to cook up mashed potatoes and let him use my car on Saturday night. I told my daughter, age 14, that for a special occasion she could borrow my sweater with the pearls, the one that had been off limits to her. This was a bit extreme, even for me, but I wanted everyone involved. I am not a woman of leisure; I work full-time, plus I teach on Sundays. I didn't have days to shop and cook an extravagant Shabbat meal, so I kept my menu simple: chicken soup, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and zucchini. Oh, and with a little help from Duncan Hines, chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I also bought ready-to-make challa from the supermarket freezer section. All I had to do was thaw and bake. Everything was simple, yet I felt something special in the planning and cooking for Shabbat. I was looking forward to Shabbat every day of the week.

Finally, the big night arrived. I had polished up my Bubby's silver candlesticks, usually only seen on special holidays, and I looked at my Jewish calendar to make sure we were beginning Shabbat at the proper time.

Then, I did something very special. I asked my daughter to join me, and together we lit the Shabbat candles. I think she, too, felt something special as we recited the blessing together. And right behind us stood my husband and my son answering "Amen" to our blessing.

We gathered round our kitchen table, now transformed into a Shabbat table, and my son recited the kiddush from his siddur. He used the kiddush cup he got for his Bar Mitzva. We each had a taste of wine did the traditional hand washing and then my husband said the hamotzi on the challa.

A certain calmness came over my family. Usually, our dinners were hurried. In fact, these days, we didn't even always eat together; with late nights at the office, basketball games, and school projects. But tonight, my loved ones were sitting down to a true family dinner -- a Shabbat dinner. The meal was delicious, if I do say so myself. But even better than the food was the conversation.

My family was sitting around one table, talking (not arguing) to each other about what happened during the week: work, school, world events, sports...anything and everything. Although I was an active participant, in some ways I felt like an onlooker observing a transformation from the mundane to something special -- from week-night to Shabbat.

After dinner we retired to the family room, but we didn't turn on the "tube." Instead, my husband said, "Anyone up for a board game?" I was shocked, but pleased. I couldn't remember the last time we sat down to a game together. Usually, our quality time was popcorn and a video. But let me tell you, we had more fun playing that game than I can remember in ages.

What had I been doing all these years? Teaching my students about something I could only imagine, yet never really experienced? I wasn't crying over the past, just looking to the future. It is now three months since our first Shabbat meal -- three months filled with weekly Shabbat dinners in my home.

I no longer need to use bribery to get my children to participate. I knew how far we had come when my daughter asked me, "Mom, can I bring a friend over to share Shabbat with us?" "Of course!" I answered.

No matter how hectic our week is, no matter how little time we spend together as a family, we now always have Shabbat to look forward to, to catch up with one another and ourselves, to forget the business of and spend quality time with G-d and family.

Courtesy of The Jewish Spark, by the Judaic Resource Center of Iowa.