We have a decorative cutting board with “give us this day our daily bread” beautifully stenciled in German. This prayer comes from Matthew chapter six and is part of the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer Jesus taught to his disciples. Another variation of the Lord’s Prayer can be found in Luke chapter eleven.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV).
When our son was little we taught him to bow his head and listen as we led in prayer before meals and again at his bedtime. When he became old enough we would listen as he prayed at bedtime and also occasionally before a meal. And as he got older we allowed him to say grace before a meal while guests were present. We never told him what words to use, but wanted him to feel free to pray whatever he felt he wanted to tell God. Of course we assumed that his hearing our prayers would serve as examples. It made perfect sense that he should thank God for our food when praying before a meal. And since he was still a little guy even thanking God for our food at bedtime was okay.
However as he got a little older I began to notice he absolutely always started his prayers by thanking God for our food, even if it happened to be bedtime. At first I thought, oh my, is he hungry or afraid he’s going to starve? Our cabinets were always full and we never shamed him into finishing all the food on his plate by reminding him of all the starving children in the world. I did though become a little conscious of his always thanking God for our food, wondering if others noticed it as well. Did they think we were starving him?
I finally came to realize that our little boy’s prayers were simple and direct. He knew what was important. He knew what to be thankful for. And one of those things was food, our daily food, our daily bread, something we often take for granted, something our little boy taught me to stop and really be thankful for.
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