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That all changed a few years ago, when I was out to dinner at an Irish pub in DC. My friends and I, led by a friend who was discerning the priesthood, paused to bow our heads and pray before eating.
As we began eating, a sweet old man came up to us with tears in his eyes. He thanked us for pausing to pray. "It's so good," he said, "to see young people saying grace."
I was so moved by that experience. I never realized such a simple act as praying in public could encourage other people and give them hope. Ever since, I try to make a point of praying before meals, especially when I'm in public.
What about you? Do you usually pray before sitting down to eat?
Originally published on my personal blog
Yes I always say grace before meals no matter where I am! That was a beautiful account of the elderly man!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story! I always say grace before meals whether I'm babysitting, at a restaurant, in the car, or anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless!
Kate
I've only ever had someone see me say grace and say she noticed one time...and that was when I had stopped for lunch when volunteering at my local Christian outreach organization's thrift store. I was a bit surprised that someone there would make notice of it, but unfortunately saying grace is not always a priority among Christians, especially in public. I know that for a fact since I was raised in an environment where grace before meals was always said for any meals eaten at home as a family, but never while eating out. So I don't think I ever said it while eating meals alone because its importance wasn't stressed. It wasn't until I started college and decided I wanted a better relationship with Christ that I started saying grace at all meals. I now say grace (silently in public, however) before every meal I eat. I will say, though, that I am still hesitant to make the sign of the cross before & after unless I'm alone or around only Catholics!
ReplyDeleteHi Bridget!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely post about your short story to say grace and how you decided to say grace at all meals. I totally understand your feeling of hesitancy to say grace in front of others, as I have felt the same before. But I think that the times when I overcame that hesitancy and decided to make my sign of the cross or say grace out loud in public were always moments of peace and joy. So I just thought I would encourage you to "be not afraid" as Pope John Paul II says and Jesus will be smiling at you from above! We should never be afraid to witness for Jesus who is our best friend!