The Case for Grace

Warning - I am venturing into religion.  It is ok - I'll be gentle.    Grace before a meal was a ritual I was raised with.  My husband was raised in a tightknit family in a farming community as the youngest of 4 boys:  take time for grace and you won't eat.  As the years have gone by I lost the ritual of grace before a meal.  During various discussions about mindful eating, taking time to eat, eating slowly, meditation in general etc. etc. the topic keeps turning over in my mind.  Why do most cultures take a moment to toast before a meal, say grace, say Bon appetit, offer some form of gratitude? Why do we historically offer thanks before eating but not before say a dogwalk or date or before changing the oil in the car?  Why have we lost this simple ritual?   

I love saying grace before eating: offering a gratitude before I enter into the act of nourishing my body and soul, and preferably nourishing friends as well.   I find it interesting the grace became a lost ritual when fast food became .... well so dang fast.  And maybe that is the answer.  Do we really feel thankful for a twinkie or hoho?   Do we really want to acknowledge the cheez whiz?  Maybe if when I sit down to eat (or don't sit down to eat) and I don't say grace - it is a sign that I am about to ingest something that is not healing, or nourishing, or maybe not even really food.  

The case for grace is this:  eat when you are thankful, not mad or sad.  Eat what you are truly grateful for.  Eat with friends and cook for them.  If you cannot boil water, cook for them anyway.  Better yet, have them teach you! Food crosses all boundaries.  It is how we show comfort, show joy, show support, find common ground.  And yes, how we show gratitude.  

In thanks,