Prayer at a meal

Hello All,
I do not mean this to be a flaming subject, okay?
In my first family, meaning with my parents, we always
said a prayer with every meal that we ate together.
Now, when I dine with my daughter or mother, we pray.
When alone, I simply say a silent prayer.
I am not asking if I should pray, but do others still
pray before or after a meal.
Often, I say a prayer of thanks after a meal, and this is not a joke,
for the goodness of the the fellowship and food after a meal.
I believe prayers should be gratitude for the food and service others
give, as well as the sacrifice of the creatures, and not a sermon.
And quite often I have said, "Thank you, God, for the money to
pay for this food."
Do others still pray at meals, other than formal settings?
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

I do. I give thanks that I made it to the table. Chow Jim

Hello All,
Jimeats. I love ya. The table awaits you.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

We used to do thanks at meals growing up. Now it's only when we have a formal dinner (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)

I feel that ole Catholic guilt a'creepin' up on me now....

deleted by OP

I grew up saying prayer at mealtime, and it seems the older I got and moved away, and then working at restaurants, I just got out of the habit.
But one day, last summer, my brother was visiting, as we were remodeling my late moms house. I brought lunch home and started to dig in as soon as I handed it out.
My brother looked at me, and said "don;t you give thanks to the Lord for what you eat?".. It kinda took me aback, and I said, Not lately, but I will start again. And thanked him for reminding me to give thanks.
I even tell the dog to give thanks when I give him his meal.
He stands over his bowl for a few minutes after I set it down, and that is what gave me the idea. It looked like he was praying, so it has become a ritual for me to say it and include Benjy in it also.
Tara

Tara,
Does Benjy look like The Benji?
The Bear

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

the nun, the priest and the monk would rather drink. True story, a few years ago, we visited the nun, first thing she did was take us to the local casino where all the other nuns were including a few in habit and we gambled for a few hours. Next we went to her apartment where she had nothing to offer us other than nachos and bourbon. Next she wanted to go back to our hotel because they had the "best happy hour in town". Sorry if I ruined anything about nuns, monks and priests, but it's my family and that's how they are. I could go on.

It's clergy like this that keep me from giving up on the Catholic Church, in which I was raised, completely. Actually, my favorite priest when I was a kid was a rotund little Italian who loved his wine and could be found every Friday night at the local bar/seafood joint observing the Church's then requirement to avoid meat on Friday (and celebrating that it put no restriction on alcohol).

We do, at every meal at home.

We don't do it at meals out, but perhaps we should. Sometimes I see familys or a couple bow their heads at the table at a restaurant, and I always pause until they finish, just out of respect.

Bushie,
Thanks for reminding me of another religion-related custom we see here in the rural Indiana area. More than once as we drive in the area we will meet an oncoming funeral procession heading for a cemetery. The first time I noticed that many people (not just older folks) pulled over to the side of the road and waited for the line of cars to pass, I was taken back. As a former Californian who thought it was a personal sign of weakness to yield the right of way to anyone for any reason, other than lights and siren attacks, I was really suprised by this custom. As it happens now and then, I have observed that many times (in town) people along the street will pause and the men will remove their caps as the deceased passes by in the hearse. Not everyone, but enough people follow the custom to be noticed and to cause the others to at least recognize that 'something' is happening.

As far as 'grace' goes, I grew up participating in this moment as a rotating assignment at the dinner table. Later in life, we seem to have retired the daily version, but retain the Holiday exercise. It is a matter of some humorous comments, but meant with respect when we insist that the senior lady present at the dinner say the prayer for the Holiday meal.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen


As a former Californian who thought it was a personal sign of weakness to yield the right of way to anyone for any reason, other than lights and siren attacks, I was really suprised by this custom. As it happens now and then, I have observed that many times (in town) people along the street will pause and the men will remove their caps as the deceased passes by in the hearse. Not everyone, but enough people follow the custom to be noticed and to cause the others to at least recognize that 'something' is happening.

Everywhere I've ever lived in this country from Washington DC to NC to FL to San Francisco, they do that. In most jurisdictions I believe it's the law that funeral processions have the absolute right of way and in SF they almost always have cops in front and behind funerals to enforce it.

More charming, though, are the Italian funerals in North Beach--where they have a band, a horse-drawn glass-enclosed hearse and someone carries a big picture of the deseased at the front of the procession. Most of these are out of the Green St. Mortuary.

quote:

Originally posted by ScreenBear

Tara,
Does Benjy look like The Benji?
The Bear

No... he is pictured on the BBQ baby or spare ribs forum though.
He is my little doodlebug, a yorkie.

A perfect little prayer is

"Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

Since I rarely get to sit down and eat and my schedule is crazy and we often eat at different times, "grace" is usually not said. But at my parent's house.....oh yes.....every meal.

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen
As a former Californian who thought it was a personal sign of weakness to yield the right of way to anyone for any reason, other than lights and siren attacks, I was really suprised by this custom.

I've been doing the pull over routine, including removing my cover, ever since I was old enough to drive. The yielding the right of way part is required by the Calif. Vehicle Code, but I'd do it anyway out of respect.

As far as the praying goes, I've been an atheist since I was old enough to think for myself, so not much of that going on around here.

Sometimes i pray when i sit down to eat.... Its important to say THANX to the spiritual world for what your having
 
Thanxgiving time i usually always say something...
 
I guess i could pray MORE than i do though!!
 
Very nice thread

We were forced to as children even though our parents did not attend church, so we made it into a game to say it as fast as possible.  I think I was ten before I learned "lettuce thankim" was not a word.  Now, I don't bother.  Primarily because I am no longer affiliated with a religion or god that requires it.

It was never anything our family did, but if I am around people who do, I don't participate in saying anything, but I will not complain about being around it.

When I'm in the company of folks who say a grace addressed to their god, I fold my hands, bow my head and keep silent.
 
Every evening Gail and I propose a toast that varies, but  essentially thanks each other for providing a delicious meal and recognizes the great bounty nature had bestowed upon us.
 
Cheers, John