Saying Grace
Can you remember learning a table prayer for the first time, or does it seem you’ve always had at least one, and possibly more, in your memory bank? In many family groups, our little ones may simply say (with parental coaching) “God bless our food. Amen.” Or a few years later, “God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Amen.” We move on to the familiar, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blest. Amen.” Of course, we mix it up now and then, and include the rather casual, “Lord, bless this bunch as we crunch our lunch! Amen.” (Often accompanied by a few giggles.) This past week, our VBS families here at St. Andrew have learned several ways to thank God, including “Superman style.” We are God’s individually created children, and we celebrate and are thankful for our uniqueness!
A poll was recently published that stated about half of all Americans say a prayer over their food at least a few times a week, and no area, no religion, no political persuasion or any other category of people had the market cornered on saying grace. The association between food and prayer exists in nearly every religious culture, and when or where the practice began is almost impossible to identify.
“It’s a powerful way of reminding yourself that you are not self-sufficient, that you are living by somebody’s grace, that plenty of other people who work just as hard as you don’t have anything to eat. The physical act of bowing heads, closing eyes and folding hands is an important exercise, regardless of one’s faith.” – Tim Keller, pastor & author
A simple, one-syllable word, grace, has multiple meanings. We speak of the physical grace of a dancer, a gymnast, or a runner, or we describe someone’s eloquence as speaking or writing gracefully. We understand God’s gift of grace, his boundless love for us, his children. Upon reading Paul’s words to the Ephesians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God . . .”,(2:8) Martin Luther’s understanding of the relationship between God and his people was completely changed, and was the foundation of the theology that led to the Reformation.
So to call a prayer before a meal “grace” carries a little more significance than we might realize at first. All that we have, all that we are, and the amazing gift of salvation through Jesus the Christ, is given to us by the grace of God. Quiet moments of gratitude and words of thanks and praise, connect us with one another and bring us into God’s presence. And that brings us full circle, as being able to thank and praise our heavenly Father is a gift of grace as well!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers