"Uncle Gene, why do we say grace?" I was a new Christian filled with questions.
He must have thought I was kidding because he said something about it keeping us from food poisoning or something like that. He chuckled with humor, everyone laughed with him, we held hands and then bowed our heads in thanks.
I never got an answer from him, but I started seeing something interesting in Scripture:
I noticed that when Jesus took the loaves and fishes from the young man He gave thanks, then a miracle of multiplication appeared.
I noticed that when Jesus gathered in community at the Passover giving thanks, then a miracle of sacrificial resurrection and salvation were given in good measure.
I noticed that when the Israelites settled in the promised land they gave a "thanks offering" to the Living God for the miracle of the harvest.
Then I read something that confused me a little. What about giving thanks AFTER you've eaten. In Deuteronomy 8:10-11a it reads, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God...Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God..." I decided to experiment and see what would happen.
The other day I said grace after the meal.
Something spiritual happened - I began thinking about:
The farmers in the wheat field harvesting the wheat for my bread,
The shuckers opening the sweet corn for my plate.
The harvesters laying out heads of lettuce for my salad.
The good soil releasing the bountiful dirt red potatoes for my pot.
The poultry farmer raising that chicken from an egg for my roasting oven.
Here was a miracle too.
Uncle Gene, it has taken me a few years, but I found the answer I was looking for: IT IS A MIRACLE.
We say grace because it is the moment a yielded heart lifts praise to her God — Jehovah Jireh — the God Who provides.
I will never say grace the same way again. I will give continue in the miracle of Thankful-Living.
