Blessing the Meal

It's difficult these days to sit down together as a household for meals. What a blessing to be able to share food and the events of the day with each other!

If you don't already make this part of your routine, how about taking 15 seconds (really, I just timed it!) to remember that God is present with you, and is the source of these and so many other blessings.

You could start with the sign of the cross and either hold hands with each other or fold your hands in front of you. Here's a traditional Catholic version of "Grace Before Meals":

Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your goodness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(I was raised saying 'thy gifts' and 'from thy bounty' ... same difference.)

Or each of your family members (including grown-ups) could take turns leading a brief prayer. As a child, my niece would often pray, "Thank you God for our food. Amen."  Short, sweet, gets the job done! Others might relish the opportunity to list the blessings of the day... which might well take longer than 15 seconds.

What do you do in your household to recall the blessings of your life?