Prayers Before Meals for Children

Children can learn pre-meal prayers.

Children's prayers before a meal are often short and rhythmical, instructional, delightful, reverential and accessible. Jesus Christ taught about prayer in his Sermon on the Mount, quoted in Matthew Chapter 6: " ... give us this day our daily bread." The Bible records Jesus giving thanks and blessing food on several occasions, for example, when he fed large numbers with little food, and at his Last Supper, as was his Jewish custom.

Breakfast

Picture a family breakfast table, seven in all and the youngest barely 3. With their heads bowed and hands linked, the father leads the prayer:

"The light of the sun makes bright the day, after darkest nighta

And oh my soul give thanks to the sun, for in it shines the light of God,

And oh my soul be up and doing !"

The 3-year-old shouts, "Up and doing!" and the family choruses: "Blessings on this meal." The joy and celebration of life come naturally at age 3.

Interfaith Grace

Meditation site writer Susan Helene Kramer offers a few short and catchy interfaith prayers that young children can readily absorb. They include:

"Meal time blessings

We ask and pray

To be with us

All through the day."

"Lord, for this food

And all we need

We give thanks

For what we receive."

"The meal prayer or blessing--saying grace--is a way to show appreciation for the bounty of nature, and all our daily gifts of grace," according to Kramer.

Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Pilgrims of 1620 looked to the Bible and found it gave instruction to give thanks, "Nearly from cover to cover," according to the All About Prayer website. The website offers a simple prayer that children can say on Thanksgiving Day:

"Thank you God for all that grows,

Thank you for the sky's rainbows,

Thank you for the stars that shine,

Thank you for these friends of mine,

Thank you for the moon and sun,

Thank you God for all you've done!"

Native American

The great Shawnee chief Tecumseh (1768-1813) penned a simple and inspiring prayer that older children, with their growing awareness of the contribution the original inhabitants made to America, will appreciate:

Give Thanks

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength.

Give thanks for your food and the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself."

References

• The Bible, Authorized (King James) Version;" 1611
• BellaOnline: Meditation Site: Meal Prayers and Blessings--Saying Grace; Susan Helene Kramer
• All About Prayer: Thanksgiving Prayer--Truly Thankful to God
• Angelfire: Give Thanks; Tecumseh
• Ohio History Central: Tecumseh