Thursday, September 1, 2011

Saying Grace

This morning while eating breakfast at the hotel, I noticed two men probably in Atlanta for a work related meeting, convention or conference. As they sat down to eat one man politely bowed his head as the other one ravenously dug into his food as though he hadn't eaten in quite some time. The man stayed with his head bowed for what seemed like hours. It was as though he was having a long long talk with God. Perhaps he was giving thanks for the cook, the chickens that laid the eggs, the plants that had given their lives to provide the herbs and spices used to season the food and the grocery store where the food was purchased. At another table full of people, I witnessed one person close her eyes quickly and open them as though embarrassed to be seen giving thanks for her bounty.

How often do we think about giving thanks but someone interrupts us and we stop praying? How many times are we with someone who doesn't give thanks and we simply start eating because they do? I have to admit there was a time I found myself embarrassed to bow my head in public and say grace, but that was long before I knew how good God is to wake me up every morning and provide me with food to eat. There were times in my life that I didn't have money to buy a meal and had to borrow money I knew I couldn't pay back. There were times the Lord sent somebody to me who asked me and my kids out to dinner just when I was wondering what I could scrape up to eat. The bible says "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalm 34:1) Regardless of who we eat with or eat in front of, we cannot be ashamed to give thanks.

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26


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