For many American families around the country and the world, Thanksgiving is one of two days a year when someone at the table feels moved to say a prayer before eating.
"Who will say grace?" someone might ask.
On this Thanksgiving Day, may we all put down our smart phones if just for a few minutes to hold hands with the person next to us. A youthful hand will grasp the aged hand of a grandparent. Tired parents sigh having made it to the table with stuffing made, fire laid, and adult kids picked up safely from the airport. This is enough to be thankful for; the gathering of family and friends in one place.
Here are some last minute ideas to make the most of this fleeting moment called saying grace.
My father chose a conventional grace. Sitting at the head of the shiny mahogany table, with head bowed, he would recite a prayer that was hard wired in his mind with no need to practice.
As he recited it, I looked down at my folded hands trying to feel something, anything.
We bless this food to our use and thus to thy service. Amen.
Below a prayer by Jane Goodall who has spent her life working on conservation and animal welfare issues. She conducted a 45 year study on family systems of chimpanzees.
I pray to the great Spiritual Power in which I live and move and have my being. I pray that we may value each other and every human being, knowing the power of each person to change the world. I pray that we may learn the peace that comes with forgiving and the strength we gain in loving; that we may learn to take nothing for granted in this life; and that we may learn to see and understand with our hearts. I pray for these things with humility. I pray because the hope is in me, because of my love for Creation, and because of my trust in God. I pray, above all, for peace throughout the world.
We remember this:
We have food while some have none
We have each other while some are alone
We are grateful for this food
The work of many hands
And finally, you can always ask people at the table what they are
thankful for. It sounds kind of corny but often leads to interesting
conversation or at least a way to practice gratitude.
And what about Thanksgiving ISN'T corny? That's what we
love about it. Have a great day.
5 comments:
Corny...yes, that's the main thing. And the best one. Once you get past the Pilgrim/Indian kerfuffle, you get right to the heart. Giving thanks.
So, thank you, Barb.....for "setting the table"...
and Happy Thanksgiving!
In a nice touch of home, we said grace before every meal at Parris Island.
Each table would seat 8 or 10 recruits who would bring their trays from the line and all stand until there was a full complement.
At that moment, the person who happened to be at the head would should at full volume,
"BLESSOHLORDTHISFOODTOOURUSEANDUSTOTHYSERVICEAMEN...
READEEEEEEEEE... (all then cross their arms in front of them, Indian style)
SEATS!!
All sat immediately and proceed with chow in silence - complete silence. So much as a glance at another recruit might result in SSgt. Hilton extinguishing his omnipresent cigar in your mashed potatoes - a sure sign that your meal, such as it was, had been completed.
All that being said, the food on Parris Island was very good. I gained about 30 pounds.
What do you remember about Grandpa's grace?....speaking of cigars!
Thanks, Barb, I love the Jane Goodall grace and will use it at our Thanksgiving table in Portland with tiny hands embracing big hands and our west coast family all together (weather conditions willing).
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HI, Ru...give this a shot.
L, Donny
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