[Motherbird]

Does anyone here say a prayer of some sort before they eat dinner? If so, what do you say? Do you say it aloud or silently?

Silently...

No prayer here, usually when family gets together my stepmom is the only one who says a silent prayer and that is fairly new for her. When we would visit certain family members we'd say grace aloud if they prefered, but most of my family members have very different thoughts on religion, some are christian, some are pagen and then some just don't believe in much (like me). So when we get to gether its just known that you do your own thing if you want.
Like for christmas we all got together and like usual some of us sat down and just started eating. But since my grandmother was in town I stopped for a second and asked if we were supposed to say grace, every one kind of looked around and 5 of us just looked at each other and said 'GRACE' and laughed and continued eating. But we are a very easy going family so its just accepted either way.

[Natural Blessings]

We never say Grace. When my mom's mom was alive and she was around for a meal she would, or if we're at my 1 aunts house she does(but it is not expected in return if she's at our house), if it is a big family get together(like my parents cousins and their kids and their kids kids) then someone says grace.

[Banned-HardWorkinMomma]

When I lived with my grandpa (he was Catholic) he ALWAYS ALWAYS said "Bless us our Lord for these our gifts which we are about to receive through bounty our Christ our Lord amen" Or SOMETHING like that.. I was small, I don't remember lol. I got out of the habit when he passed, because I hated that prayer.

My daughter was taught to say "God is good God is great thank you for our food Amen" at daycare, but I don't let her say it at home because I am trying to teach my children that instead of being "programmed" and saying a "certain" prayer ("God is good" or "Bless us our Lord", etc) we should say a prayer from our heart. To REALLY thank God for the food He has given us. To show how appreciative we actually are that we can afford the food we are eating, that we aren't living off of pb&j sandwiches. She doesn't like it sometimes, but she does it anyway.

[mom2princesses]

double post... sorry

[mom2princesses]

My daughter was taught to say "God is good God is great thank you for our food Amen" at daycare, but I don't let her say it at home because I am trying to teach my children that instead of being "programmed" and saying a "certain" prayer ("God is good" or "Bless us our Lord", etc) we should say a prayer from our heart. To REALLY thank God for the food He has given us. To show how appreciative we actually are that we can afford the food we are eating, that we aren't living off of pb&j sandwiches. She doesn't like it sometimes, but she does it anyway. [/b]

ITA!!! I do not let my girls say a scripted blessing or prayer. We always say a prayer or blessing from our hearts to reflect what has happened that day.

Julie

[Banned-HardWorkinMomma]

I'm glad someone agrees! When Jenelle starts "God is good.." I say uh.. no.. start over. And she has to be "retrained" because she just had to say it at school that way. My mom thinks it doesn't matter what is said as long as something is said - but then again, she was raised Catholic. I think the grace should come from your heart.

[Momo]

I agree, prayer should not be scripted. DH and I pray together before meals and it's a special time to thank God for the day we've had and ask him blessing over the meal he has provided us with.

[Banned-HardWorkinMomma]

I think it's good for kids to know the "God is good.." prayer, and it's very cute to hear them say it.. especially if they are asked to say grace in a large group. Instead of them getting nervous and not knowing what to say that will be stored in the back of their mind and hopefully save them. But I also think it's good for kids to know that we should speak to God from our heart... this includes bedtime prayers. I don't really like it when Jenelle says "Now I lay me.." but I let her say it as long as she agrees to actually PRAY afterwards. So it's kind of a compromise and works out well.

[mom2princesses]

For some reason, Emily now wants to say... "AH, Man" and clap.

Hannah does really good w/ it now. She has it down pat. She blesses all her friends at daycare, her teacher, papa at his house, granny at her house, momma, daddy, hmmm.. (the way she say's Emily), and her kitty cat.

Julie

[Banned-HardWorkinMomma]

The new ushers we have at church are like 8 and 10 years old.. and this one boy is so cute. When he's supposed to bless the offering he goes ON and ON about how to bless the lost souls, and the church, and his mom and dad, and everyone sick, and every unmentioned prayer, and all kinds of other things. It's adorable. And you can tell it's from the heart. When a "deacon" does the blessing he's just like "Please bless this offering thank you heavenly Father for everything amen".... it's very boring/scripted. I love how children pray.

[UndaCovaSis]

I say Bismillah (In the Name of God) and when I am finished I say Alhamdulillah (All Praise be to God). Sometimes I say more, sometimes just that. Pretty much say Bismillah before *everything*