Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
When I visit my Mother and StepFather up in Montana they always say grace before every meal. Of course I bow my head out of respect for them and pretend that I'm communicating a message of appreciation to the Big Fella for generously taking time out of his busy day to provide us with the meat loaf and mashed potatoes and gravy and of course a little extra thanks is due for that glass of red wine and I'll be even more grateful after the second. However, this does seem rather confusing to me because I'm quite sure that my Mother and StepFather actually purchased all of the ingredients for this meal at the supermarket including the beloved red wine. I really don't ever recall an instance when we've ever received a mysterious basket on the doorstep filled with a deliciously prepared meal from you know Who. And yet there's a flurry of messages directed to The Eternal Cook around meal time from all over the land from the grateful recipients of ham sandwiches and potato salad in Des Moines, Iowa to the delighted gathering in Pensacola, Florida who've been presented with fried chicken and corn on the cob. Could someone please explain this to me???
MG you really need to keep save this stuff somewhere and put it in a book...you are quite good at turning a phrase! Just love the reference to the Eternal Cook!..LOL
Now my answer to you about why it is done is simple gratitude. Irregardless of if you direct that gratitude to God or the Universe or whatever. It is always good to reflect upon what you have and be thankful for it. It is said at mealtime because generally that is a time of day when the entire family (sadly this part isn't so much true with all the business of today's lives ) is together. If you notice although yes the meal is usually included, thanks and praise is usually given for other things as well. Look at it this way....yes your parents purchased and cooked the food but to them they are thanking and praising God for allowing them to be able to be here to go out and earn a good wage to provide a meal for their family. Does that make any sense?
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,..." James 1:17
Therefore our acknowledgement and thankfulness is owed to God. Yes, Mom and Dad may buy the stuff or grow the stuff, Mom may spend half a day cooking it, but God made it possible.
We take it so for granted that we're going to have all the food we want whenever we want it that we frequently forget how blessed we are. I imagine many of us would be on our knees thanking God for food if we had to face famine or starvation.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,..." James 1:17
Therefore our acknowledgement and thankfulness is owed to God. Yes, Mom and Dad may buy the stuff or grow the stuff, Mom may spend half a day cooking it, but God made it possible.
We take it so for granted that we're going to have all the food we want whenever we want it that we frequently forget how blessed we are. I imagine many of us would be on our knees thanking God for food if we had to face famine or starvation.
Very good answers, Nana and Irishmom. One of my former pastors used to say (joking) that if you don't, you'll choke on it! But I don't think this is the reason! Also, I might add that Jesus who is our example, thanked the Father before a meal.
Absolutely! But since my dad was a farmer, that was understood. He always said that most farmers were Godfearing because their very livelihood depended on the weather.
John 6:11
And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
Romans 14:6
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
) is together. If you notice although yes the meal is usually included, thanks and praise is usually given for other things as well. Look at it this way....yes your parents purchased and cooked the food but to them they are thanking and praising God for allowing them to be able to be here to go out and earn a good wage to provide a meal for their family. Does that make any sense?
