To stir up gratitude at the dinner table and find new ways to give thanks and appreciate life’s gifts: “A few years ago I started taking a moment before I eat to give thanks. I wouldn’t consider this prayer, or even a religious thing, simply a way to slow down and feel gratitude for the food in front of me. Funnily enough, this little habit has caught on among my family and many friends, who now enjoy a little pause of appreciation before eating, too. Many of them have told me what a significant difference these ten seconds have made in their life, and how much more they consciously enjoy their food.”  – S A R A H   B R I T T O N  {Holistic Nutritionist/Vegetarian Chef known for her award winning blog My New Roots}

Ancient & Contemporary Graces from Around the World
TRADITIONAL AMERICAN BLESSING Circa 1800s Father, we thank Thee for the food. For health and strength and all things good. May others all these blessings share. And hearts be graceful everywhere.

CATHOLIC GRACE Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Without Thy sunshine and Thy rain; We would not have the golden grain; Without Thy love we’d not be fed; We thank Thee for our daily bread.

THANKGIVING “For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.”  – R A L P H   W A L D O   E M E R S O N

CHILD’S 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.

CHINESE PROVERB When eating bamboo shoots remember the man who planted them… Dear Father, hear and bless Thy beasts and singing birds; And guard with tenderness Small things that have no words.

GRACE OF THE BODHISATTVA This food comes from the earth and the sky, It is the gift of the entire universe And the fruit of much hard work; I vow to live a life which is worthy to receive it.

CHILDREN’S PRAYER God is great! God is Good! Let us thank Him for our food.

BUDDHIST BLESSING FOR FOOD Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space combine to make this food. Numberless beings gave their lives and labors that we may eat. May we be nourished that we may nourish life.

JEWISH BLESSING FOR THE CHALLAH Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

CHRISTIAN PRAYER Dear Lord, thank you for this food. Bless the hands that prepared it. Bless it to our use and us to your service. And make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Through Christ our Lord we pray. For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.

CLASSIC SLEEP-AWAY CAMP BLESSING Rub a dub dub Thanks for the Grub Yea! God!

Quotes of Grace
“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity, it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.”  – W I L L I A M   F A U L K N E R

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”  – M A R C E L   P R O U S T

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give tanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”  – R A L P H   W A L D O   E M E R S O N

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”  – E P I C U R U S

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which your kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”  – M A Y A   A N G E L O U

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”  – M E I S T E R   E C K H A R T

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.”  – A. A.  M I L N E,  W I N N I E – T H E – P O O H

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.”  – K A H L I L G I B R A N,   T H E   P R O P H E T

“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.”  – A L P H O N S E   K A R R

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”  – T H O R N T O N   W I L D E R

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”  – M A R C U S   T U L L I U S   C I C E R O

“God gave you a gift of 86400 seconds today. Have you used one the say thank you?”  – W I L L I A M   A R T H U R   W A R

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