Meaningless Prayers
By lancingboy
@lancingboy (1386)
United States
December 7, 2007 4:28am CST
I keep forgetting to post this discussion. When I went to my grandparents' house, it reminded me to post it. Here it is.
Do you know anyone who says a prayer before every meal they eat? I memorized the prayer my grandparents say before their meals.
"Dear Heavenly Father. Please bless this food and let it be nourishment for our bodies. In Jesus' name, amen."
The thing is, when they say it, their tone of voice makes it seem like it is a requirement to say this prayer before they eat. Even when they forget to say it beforehand, and they start eating, they remember and tell everyone to stop eating and bow their heads.
This makes it seem like it is a chore to say this prayer. Personally, I don't see why they even bother with it when they don't actually mean it. Or if they do, their facial expressions and tone of voice say otherwise.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
7 Dec 07
I always say a prayer before I eat. I want to thank God for the food and for all He does for me. I also ask Him to bless my family and my friends.
It is important to be thankful for everything we have. God is so good to us!
God bless:)
@walijo2008 (4646)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Amen to that!!!!! We always say a prayer before we eat too. I also pray at other times too, just to thank him for what he's done for me, and all the things he's gotten me thru in my life, and I ask him to bless family and friends. He is soooo good to us..God Bless You
@reene0225 (352)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Pretty much my entire family on my mom's side does that. I grew up doing it but don't anymore unless I'm with someone that practices prayer before meals. Most of the time people do think of it as a requirement. I did whenever I lived at home. I just wanted to get to the food. I was hungry after all we were there to eat. With my family however those before meal prayers were really long and were also thanking God for the day and asking to help whoever it was that needed help at the time. So I really didn't look forward to that.
@OrangJuice (688)
• China
10 Dec 07
I'm sorry to say I always forget to pray before meal. But I think no matter what we say in a prayer, we have to apply our minds on it. Sometimes it sounds short and easy.
If we pray without our hearts, it will be meaningless. Meanwhile, I don't think God likes it.
@tiffiny (872)
• United States
7 Dec 07
They were probibly just brought up that way so it's a force of habbit. I forget to pray alot. But when I do pray it's always with my entire heart. You should never cheat God out of your whole heart. He already know's what's there so you might as well be honest with Him. If you can't be with Him then who can you be?
@vikashsabharwal (552)
• India
7 Dec 07
I know a person who says prayer before eating food as well as when he sleeps to thank GOD for whatever is given to him and also for the way the day passed. the person concerned is me. its not like a burden to me as no one forces me to do this but it is from my inner belief to thank him for everything.
