As my husband, his best friend Al, and I sat around the dining room table about to tackle fresh plates of angel hair pasta covered in white clam sauce, I said to Al, “We say grace in this house.” The three of us bowed our heads and together thanked God for the food.
Another night, another dinner, our good neighbor friends were dining with us, and before we picked up our forks, I said the same, “We say grace in this house.”
A third recent dinner, serving another set of friends a meal of fresh-off-the-boat scamp grouper, we offered grace as well.
No one balked or refused. No one walked away from the table. No one was offended. They honored our ritual of thanking God for the nutritious meals in front of us.
I usually lead the short prayer and switch up between several different versions, this one uttered by my father-in-law Joe (God rest his sweet soul) before we ate as a Singleton family:
Lord, make us thankful for what we are about to receive,
for the nourishment of our bodies,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As our kids were growing up, these two simple versions of grace were said most often, and still used at our table:
Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts,
Which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
God is great, God is good,
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hand we all are fed,
Thank you for our daily bread.
Amen.
Sometimes, we jokingly rhyme at the end, “and Uncle Fred,” my husband’s one sibling. Often I will add a quick prayer for our guests at the table or someone in our hearts.
When we’re with our three “grandSingys,” ages 11, 8 and 6, we follow their lead, hold hands and sing grace – it is so sweet to hear their little high-pitched voices praise God, and it’s my favorite version of the four graces we say. (This one is to the tune of Are you sleeping, brother John?)
God our Father … God our Father
Now we ask … Now we ask
For your blessing … for your blessing
Aaaaa-men … Aaaa-men.
When I eat breakfast or lunch solo, I usually remember to say grace before eating. Admittedly, while dining out, not as much, but sometimes I will utter it to myself and make a quick sign of the cross. I haven’t had the nerve to ask my husband or tablemates in a restaurant to say grace aloud.
Once while lunching out with a priest friend some years ago, he initiated grace in the restaurant and I admit I felt a little self-conscious. However, I liked it, I liked his lack of inhibition, his dedication to his faith, and since then, I’ve realized, So what? Why can’t I say grace someplace else besides our dinner table? It is no one’s business but mine.
Whether you and I are in good practice or not of praying in the morning, evening, or throughout the day, thanking God for our meals is a simple and easy way to praise Him. Especially as we remember there are many hungry people in our world, states, and communities.
If you are ever to eat at my table – and I promise I am a good Italian cook – please know this … we say grace in this house.
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