We generally don't do "memorized prayers", but the one I grew up on went: "Thank you, oh Lord, for these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen."
The preschool I cook at recites this: God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hand we must be fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen
Just thought of another one.....my bf says this one with her baby boy: Dear Jesus, thank you for this food and bless it to this little dude. Amen!
The first one I learned as a child. My dad was Catholic, and when I was young I attended a Catholic church, and I learned it through the Catholic church. But I never considered it a "Catholic" prayer, nor do I consider it one now. I think it's good for ANYONE who wants to thank God for their food. Anyway, when I was older we went to the Baptist church (and still prayed this prayer at meals). One day, I was at Bible School and they asked someone to pray for snack. There was a Catholic boy there, and he said he would, but it was a "Catholic" prayer. The teacher said it didn't matter as long as it expressed thanks to God. So the boy prayed the first prayer I mentioned. The next day, the teacher's son volunteered to pray. "You said it doesn't matter what we say, as long as it expresses thanks to God, right?" His mom confirmed this. So the boy grinned, and prayed the second prayer I mentioned. His mom was NOT impressed, lol!
Hey Jackie, I was just wondering what everyone says basically, some have short ones, some have long ones, some have a book
At Girl Scout camp when I was a kid we would sing the first verse of Johnny Appleseed: The Lord's been good to me And so I thank the Lord For giving me the things I need The sun and the rain and the appleseed The Lord's been good to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_IrdS-zu48
We've taught dgs "the Baptist grace": Father, we thank you for providing this food. We ask you to bless it to the nourishment of our bodies, and our bodies to Your service. Amen." Or variations thereof. We don't always say these exact words, but something along these lines. We don't usually do memorized prayers, either, but find it very helpful in instructing little ones if we follow a sort of "formula". One I learned when I was little was, "Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food we eat, Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you, God, for everything."
