|
By Lew Wallace Father of all -- God! What we have here is of Thee; Take our thanks and bless us, That we may continue to do Thy will.
(Traditional, circa 1800s) Father we thank Thee for this food, for health and strength and all things good. May others all these blessings share, and hearts be grateful everywhere.
Robert Burns Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thanit.
(The Hebrew Prayer Book) Though our mouths were full of song as the sea, and our tongues of exultation as the multitude of its waves, and our lips of praise as the wide-extended firmament; though our eyes shone with light like the sun and the moon, and our hands were spread forth like the eagles of heaven, and out feet were swift as hinds, we should still be unable to thank thee and bless thy name, O Lord our God and God of our fathers, for one thousandth or one ten thousandth part of the bounties which thou has bestowed upon our fathers and upon us.
Aztec prayer, circa 1500s Lord most giving and resourceful, I implore you; make it your will that this people enjoy the goods and riches you naturally give, that naturally issue from you, that are pleasing and savory, that delight and comfort, though lasting but briefly, passing away as if in a dream.
Harry Jewell, mid-1900s Our Father in Heaven, We give thanks for the pleasure of gathering together for this occasion. We give thanks for this food prepared by loving hands. We give thanks for life, the freedom to enjoy it all and all other blessings. As we partake of this food, We pray for health and strength to carry on and try to live as You would have us. This we ask in the name of Christ Our Heavenly Father.
|
