Who'll Say Grace?
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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on Colossians after Easter
A hot, glistening bird commands the laden table, as grandma calls
everyone to dinner. Eight-year-old Jennifer proudly lugs her July-born
sister to the table. Grandpa and dad get up slowly with a long
backward glance to see the tight end catch a pass and be forced
out of bounds at the twenty. The game continues in the background
without them.
"Who'll say grace?" grandma asks. Grown-ups look awkwardly
at each other in strained silence. Finally Uncle John snickers
and parrots the word "grace," and laughter spills over
the tension. Grandma steps in. "Jennifer, why don't you say
the prayer you learned in Sunday School when you were in kindergarten."
She recites. The feast begins.
Embarrassed silence replaces thanksgiving, gluttony displaces
gratefulness. Thanksgiving--an expression of gratitude to God
for benefits received--is too often absent from our hollow holiday.
There is, however, an ancient custom which can reclaim the day.
We read, Jesus "took the seven loaves and the fish, and when
he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples."
At the Last Supper Jesus took bread and gave thanks, lifted the
cup, gave thanks and offered it to His followers. Jesus always
prayed before meals.
We can, too. A simple prayer of thanks at each family meal of
the year will gradually restore thankfulness to us. As our children
see us humble ourselves to thank our Creator, they too learn to
be grateful. Robert Lintner said it well: "Thanksgiving was
never meant to be shut up in a single day."
This habit of family thankfulness can begin round our tables this
Thanksgiving--the first of many prayers of thanks to be offered,
not just by Jennifer, but by her thankful mother and father as
well.
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