How Do You Say Grace?

[cardaway]

We usually don;t at home but my wife goes along when we are with her whole Catholic family, like this upcoming Thursday.

It's one of those everybody recites the whole thing ,all at the same time, but not quite in unison things.

I don't see the point in a such a unmeaningful ritual. I would rather one person say something heartfelt, or even go around the table, but nothing like that is ever done.

At my parents house (usually the next day on Friday) one of us always says something from the heart.

 

[disykat]

I like a recited prayer - I think it gives children a "framework" and something comforting they can always fall back on, even when words fail them and allows us to all pray with one voice.

I'll quote myself to defend the "unmeaningful" comment. It's really a matter of opinion. I have never forgotten something I read that was written by a POW about his time in a Vietnamese prison. He wrote how comforting the Bible verses, prayers, and songs were that he had memorized as a small child. This is one reason I have always made sure that my kids had some "rote" prayers etc. to say. Of course it doesn't replace praying what is on your heart at the moment. However, that doesn't mean there isn't merit to it.

For me, it is very meaningful to have all our voices raised together. What may be "unmeaningful" to one person may be very meaningful to another.

 

[Hercules10]

She died 30 years ago.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag...."

Ours has to be short so people don't lose a digit.

 

[briannesmom]

We like our 5 YO DGD to say the blessing.

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.
Amen.

I still tear up everytime I sneak a peek (She sometimes checks to see if "the boys" have their eyes closed) at her little head bowed with her hands folded together in her lap as she gives thanks for the Lords blessings. She very proud of herself and solemn as she recites.

ETA that Kady learned this in preschool. Until this little girl wanted to say Grace at every meal we usually reserved the Blessing for special meals. Talk about learning a lesson from children.

My DD learned this in preschool this year (without the God part) and we have started saying it before dinner. Watching a whole class of preschoolers say this before snack time is the cutest thing ever.

My Dads cousin is a catholic priest. Every year before Christmas dinner my Grandma would pester him into saying grace. He would stand up and in his booming voice say "Grace" and sit down and start eating

Amy

 

[lg3]

We usually don;t at home but my wife goes along when we are with her whole Catholic family, like this upcoming Thursday.
It's one of those everybody recites the whole thing ,all at the same time, but not quite in unison things.
I don't see the point in a such a unmeaningful ritual. I would rather one person say something heartfelt, or even go around the table, but nothing like that is ever done.
At my parents house (usually the next day on Friday) one of us always stands up and says something from the heart.

I can understand where you are coming from cardaway. I experience the exact same thing when eating with DH's family. I still find it disconcerting after all these years, but just keep my mouth shut if we are at someone else's house, and silently say my own. When we have everyone over at our house I say a grace that is more spontaneous and personal to the occasion or meal itself. It just makes me feel more connected to the reason for saying Grace. Hopefully they feel just as connected with their particular Grace.
DD is now trying to say Grace at meals, since they have a designated "prayer leader" in her pre-school. We do the God is great ..... and I like the Come Lord Jesus.... She likes to pray for animals, and can go on and on remembering all the animals God has made.

 

[KimR]

For family get-togethers, DH is usually the one who is asked to say grace and it goes something like this: 'HeavenlyFatherwethanktheeforthisdayandwethanktheeforthymanyblessingsandweaskthatyoubewiththosewhocannotbewithusonthisdayblessthisfoodtothenourishmentofourbodiesthroughChristweaskamen'.

I think he's trying to get through it fast before the food gets cold.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

The one I grew up with was:

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
and let thy gifts to us be blessed.

I'm Lutheran and that prayer is attributed to Martin Luther.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Growing up, Grace was said before every meal, usually something spontaneous applying to what was happening that day....work, school, project, travel...etc.
I did pop up with a "Good bread, Good meat, Good Lord let's eat" once and got smacked in the back of the head.

 

[minnieandme]

Lord, thank you for the food we're about to receive and nourishing our bodies, amen.

 

[paigevz]

What? No one answered "Very carefully"?

Seriously, it's a different prayer and different leader every time, and is followed by the Lord's Prayer in unison.

 

[corie161]

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest.
and let this food to us be blessed.

Amen

This is what we do also. I want to think my DH family has a little longer version, but I'm not sure what it is exactly.

 

[GeorgeG]

No comment...

 

[sunny_]

+In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Bless us Oh lord for these thy gifts we're about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.



We do the above prayer too. I don't see anything wrong with it. After it we will add thanks and personal prayers sometimes. And sometimes we go around the table and myself, dh and the 3 kids who are old enough to talk say "thanks" for whatever they have that they appreciate. But some nights, it's just the recited prayer.

 

[sunny_]

I'll quote myself to defend the "unmeaningful" comment. It's really a matter of opinion. I have never forgotten something I read that was written by a POW about his time in a Vietnamese prison. He wrote how comforting the Bible verses, prayers, and songs were that he had memorized as a small child. This is one reason I have always made sure that my kids had some "rote" prayers etc. to say. Of course it doesn't replace praying what is on your heart at the moment. However, that doesn't mean there isn't merit to it.

For me, it is very meaningful to have all our voices raised together. What may be "unmeaningful" to one person may be very meaningful to another.

I agree with you 100%!! As I said earlier, we do our same prayer at each meal. Then we add our own thoughts and thanks after that if we choose. (that is just us - what works for anyone else's family is great for them too!!)

 

[UP Disney]

when I taught preschool we taught them this one:

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest.
and let this food to us be blessed.

Amen


simple and sincere is always the best way to go!!

The one that I said as a child is very similar to this one.

Come Lord Jesus, Be Our Guest,
Thank you for this food we Bless, Amen.

My DH's family said the following one.

Lord God Heavenly Father, Bless us and these thy gifts which we receive through thy bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

We take turns saying each depending on who starts it first. For special occasions, we will say the Lord's prayer and everyone at the table holds hands.

When I was growing up just one of us said the prayer while the others bowed their heads. In our house, we say it together.

 

[coolbeans]

FatherSonHolyGhostAmenBlessusohLordandthesethygiftswhichweareabouttoreceivefromthybountythroughChristourLordAmenFatherSonHolyGhostAmen.

That is exactly how I say it (and I'm 32!!) Don't laugh, but I've said it like that so long if you slow it down the words get messed up!

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

The one I grew up with was:

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
and let thy gifts to us be blessed.

I'm Lutheran and that prayer is attributed to Martin Luther.

I'm Lutheran too and that's what we say.

Come Lord Jesus be our guest,
Let these gifts to us be blessed.

Short, simple and sweet.

My FIL says a prayer at holidays where he thanks the Lord for all He's given everyone. It goes on pretty long but he does a good job. Usually SIL and her DH are chiming in saying, "Mmmmm Hmmm, Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen, That's right..." while he's speaking. I used to think they were rude, but now I realize they're just really getting into what he's saying. However, I can't look at DH during it or he'll make me start to laugh. Now that IS rude!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Fall back on "Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts," a lot.

Sometimes, "Abba Father, bless this food. Amen."

On occasion, we are thankful for something specific, but it is usually me doing the thanking. "God, we're so proud of DD for getting an A on her math test! Thank you for giving her the brains and the determination to do it."

When the kids were little, we did all the singing ones, but now they're too old for all that.

 

[NikiM20]

I'm Lutheran too and that's what we say.

Come Lord Jesus be our guest,
Let these gifts to us be blessed.

Short, simple and sweet.

My FIL says a prayer at holidays where he thanks the Lord for all He's given everyone. It goes on pretty long but he does a good job. Usually SIL and her DH are chiming in saying, "Mmmmm Hmmm, Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen, That's right..." while he's speaking. I used to think they were rude, but now I realize they're just really getting into what he's saying. However, I can't look at DH during it or he'll make me start to laugh. Now that IS rude!

I can picture this happening in our family

 

[hpygrll]

In the rare times that we actually said grace we would say:

For this food we are about to receive...may the Lord make us truly thankful.....amen

Jenny