Give thanks, with a grateful heart

Growing up we always used to eat dinner sitting at the dining table.  Dinner was at 6.40pm and whoever was around was welcome to join us.
We always said grace; taking turns,

For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly grateful Amen.

I can't say that as a child I was truly grateful for every meal, but I do look back with nostalgia at the family discussions, with no TV running, every evening, without fail.
Lately I have been feeling truly blessed by the fact that I do have enough good wholesome food to eat, and have been making a point to silently give thanks before every meal.  A minute too, thinking about those less fortunate can make me more aware of different ways I can help the many hungry poor in this world.
I have learnt some wonderful grace's over the years:

God is great
God is good,
let us thank Him for our food.

thank you for the world so sweet
thank you for the food we eat
thank you for the birds that sing
thank you God for everything.

and this is my favourite,

God we thank you for our food,
for rest and home and all things good
for wind and rain and sun above
but most of all for those we love.

There is a wonderful collection here:
brockportcommunitygarden

Do you say grace, or have a moment of gratitude before a meal?

Comments

  1. JoyfulWed Sep 18, 12:20:00 PM

    Sweet post. It is good to b e grateful for the daily things we have that many around the world do not. I have always said grace before meals but lately I've been slipping. I'm not sure how that happened. I think I've just been too stretched and stressed. This is a good reminder to restart the practice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieThu Sep 19, 12:50:00 PM

      Joyful,
      Yes I dont know when or why I slipped out of that habit either.

      Delete
  2. MLM247Wed Sep 18, 01:50:00 PM

    When our children were small we were quite religious and saying grace was just one of the little things we did. One day a little girl had lunch with us, as she had often done in the past. She brightly piped up with, "My mother said we don't have to pray over the food at our house. Our food is good enough." Perhaps her mother said more than that. Saying grace is not just about food, even though it looks that way. We have much to be thankful for.
    There is something done here in this region that is a little like saying grace. Before a big meeting or ceremony someone gets up and says, 'We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which me meet and respect their careful stewardship over hundreds of years.' The words vary but the meaning is the same.
    It is not about religion. It is not about who is present. It is not about position in society. I think it is about connections.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieThu Sep 19, 12:52:00 PM

      Oh gosh Louise, I laughed at that!
      Sometimes I think just being aware of the food we eat is important - when you eat in a rush you can look back and realize you never even tasted the food!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousThu Sep 19, 05:06:00 AM

    I don't at the moment but you are so right...we SHOULD be giving thanks for everything we have because there are so many people out there with so much less. Thankyou for reminding me to be grateful for my lot :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. africanaussieThu Sep 19, 12:53:00 PM

      Serendipity,
      Often we only realize what we had when it is already gone.

      Delete
  4. Carolyn ♥Sun Sep 22, 01:53:00 AM

    Love this post... those first two prayers are ones I recited as a child, taught to me by my sweet mother. Prayer is an integral part of my life, a sweet connection to my divine creator, an offering of gratitude for all that I am blessed with. I begin, and end, each day with a prayer from my heart, and as I go throughout my day, I always try to keep that prayer of gratitude within my heart. This small act blesses my every day and reminds me that even in my trials, I am indeed a child of God. And that puts a skip in my step. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. LindaMon Sep 23, 09:28:00 AM

    So glad you pointed this post out to me. I have a Grace story to tell you! In our house, Buddy Boy insists on saying Grace. I love listening to what he is grateful for. A typical list includes - the food, his sisters, his family, Spicks and Specks (TV show), his footy...... Love it when the kids say Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  6. VirginiaCSun Sep 29, 08:54:00 PM

    I was taught as a child to say grace by my mother, and none of us could touch any food on the table until we said grace. I still say grace before I eat, even when I'm out in public. I bow my head discreetly and say a silent grace.
    We have SOOOOO much to be thankful for, and we should always respect our blessings.

    ReplyDelete

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