Lately I have found myself meditating about prayer—not simply the meaning and purpose, but also the methodology and practice. Take, for example, grace before meals. How many times have you been at a restaurant with friends when someone invariably asks, “Who is going to bless the food?” Whatever rushed prayer that follows typically includes a central phrase like: “bless this food to the nourishment and/or strengthening of our bodies.” I am guilty of this, too, but when you really reflect on it that first part is kind of an odd statement, is it not? Why does the food need to be blessed anyway?

I grew up in a home in which I was taught to pray the same short and sweet prayer over and over again at every meal (in fact, the first time I heard someone pray something different at dinner I was taken aback).

O

LORD, bless us and these gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord — Amen.

We said it so fast that it simply seemed like something to get out of the way as quickly as possible so that we could satisfy our hunger. This only served to fuel the focus on “me, me, me.” Between the brevity, the “bless us” and the “we…receive;” the source of the “bounty” was all but forgotten.

Contrast this with a children’s prayer that my oldest son and daughter learned at the mom’s day out pre-school they attend a couple days a week. They are always asking to pray at dinner. Sometimes they are so eager that after one person has prayed, the other says a different prayer.

G

REAT, great elephant,
Little tiny bee,
Small purple violet
And tall green tree.
God gave us everything,
He gave us eyes to see.
Thank you God for everything
That you have given me — Amen.

The first time I heard my son pray this I was immediately like, “W-w-hat? Elephant?” When he finally finished I thought, “Huh? Out of the mouths of babes!” So the next time you sit down to feast on God’s bountiful blessings, I encourage you to take a cue from the kids: be excited, slow down and offer a little less praise to the food and a little more to the God who gave it.