Grace and Gratitude Practices?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Grace and Gratitude Practices?
3
Thu, 03-15-2007 - 2:54pm

I saw a poll on the front page of beliefnet (http://www.beliefnet.com/) and thought it was interesting. Feel free to take it and check out the results of the pool in the link. :) So, do you say grace before meals? All meals, just one? Out loud? Silently? Never? Sometimes? Do you hold hands with others eating with you? Do you have a favorite grace you say?

I would have set up a poll but I can't write an informational paragraph or anything, so decided not to use the poll setup option. <:=O

DH & I say grace together, holding hands, with our other hands outstretched, since DD now lives on her own, as an inclusive gesture to all who are not eating with us. Sometimes I say a Christian grace, as DH is Christian, from my long ago Catholic childhood: "Bless us, O Lord, for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord, Amen." This one also works by substituting "Lady & Lord" for "Oh Lord" and "Through Christ our Lord." Ending with, "So mote it me. Blessed Be." :)

I also like this one by Starhawk and sometimes use it:

"All life is your own
All fruits of the earth
Are fruits of your womb,
Your union, your dance.
Lady and Lord,
We thank you for blessings and abundance.
Join with us, Feast with us, Enjoy with us!
Blessed Be."

I also found this one in one of my fav books, "Earth Prayers from Around the World," A Unitarian Grace:

"The food which we are about to eat
Is Earth, Water and Sun, compounded
through the alchemy of many plants
Therefore Earth, Water and Sun will become part of us.
This food is also the fruit of the labor
of many beings and creatures.

We are grateful for it.

May it give us strength, health and joy.

And may it increase our love."

Here's a link to a list of Graces from different traditions, on Beliefnet: http://www.beliefnet.com/prayeroftheday/sec_prayerslst.asp?paid=14

I think saying Grace formally is a way to bring sacred space to my family, as we share a meal. It is part of what I call my "Gratitude Practice," in that I say thank you out loud often during the day, for the little things I enjoy and appreciate and notice. Like the shade of a tree for my Mika dog and I on a warm sunny day, when we stop for water. I pour a little water on the roots of the tree, look up into it's branches and thank it for it's life and presence, granting us shade and beauty. :P

So, do you have a Grace tradition? A Gratitude Practice? An Appreciation Practice? Please share... ;))

Gypsy
)O(



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 03-15-2007 - 4:51pm

Sometimes we say grace before dinner, sometimes not.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 03-15-2007 - 6:22pm

I grew up saying grace before meals, but don't so


Avatar for mending
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Mon, 03-19-2007 - 6:08am
In think in quiet circles, we express our Thanks in different ways, of course we all know that much. Sometimes we wish for more & sometimes we don't get everything we pray for such as money & material things. Except aren't these supposed to be included in all of God's blessings? I agree "volunteering" will be the practice if nothing else can be accomplished. Besides sending cards, what more can someone ask for. Thanks so much for the website.