Grace

Having grown up in a home that religiously (I'm not sure if the pun is even appropriate) said grace--and many of them--

from "Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, Which we are about to receive From Thy Bounty through Christ, Our Lord, Amen"

to singing "''Tis a gift to be simple..."


to the simple "good food, good meat, good God let's eat"

to the classic "God is great, God is good.Let us thank him for our food.By his hands, we are fed.Give us Lord our daily bread.Amen"

to the Classic folk version "The Lord is good to me and so I thank the Lordfor giving me the things I needthe sun and the rain and the apple seed.The Lord is good to me"

to the time when my parents were socially liberal "For food in a world where many walk in hunger;For faith in a world where many walk in fear;For friends in a world where many walk alone;We give you thanks, O Lord. Amen"

to the basic "Come Lord Jesus be our guest, let this food to us be blessed. Amen"

to the musical (and sung to the tune of "Edelweis,") "Bless our friends,Bless our food,Come, O Lord and sit with us.May our talkGlow with peace;Come with your love to surround us.Friendship and loveMay they bloom and glow,Bloom and glow forever.Bless our friends,Bless our food,Bless all mankind forever. "

to one of my favorites: "In a world where so many are hungry,may we eat this food with humble hearts;in a world where so many are lonely,May we share this friendship with joyful hearts. "

to my juevenile delinquent sister's favorite: Rub a dub dub; thanks for the grub; yeaaa God!

to the one we usually said at breakfast and lunch: Thank you, God, for loving me.Thank you for my family.Help me to learn more each day, To be kind at work and play...

to my mother's favorite: Thank you Lord for happy hearts for rain and sunny weather. Thank you lord for this our food and that we are together. Amen

to the one we said in school..."Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the things we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you, God, for everything. "

And as Episcopalians, we didn't say "amen" we "amened" it...."aaaaaaahhhhh-mehhhhn"

And my kids don't have any of those traditions (and I'm thinking not having to have memorized the Book Of Common Prayer as a young child has negatively influenced their educational skills).

So maybe: Today may we appreciate this food and remember those who are hungry. May we appreciate our family and friends and remember those who are alone. May we appreciate our health and remember those who are sick. May we appreciate the freedoms we have and remember those who suffer injustice and tyranny. Peace on earth. Amen

It sure beats, "OK, who has to be at practice?"

...I would love some sort of tradition with my family. Most of these aren't appropriate. Maybe I need to investigate some dharma centered blessings