138. Saying Grace
I’ve just published a book titled “50 Graces to Sing to tunes you know.” Half of them are written to old folk tunes (Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, etc.) and half of them are written to old hymn tunes (Fairest Lord Jesus, etc.). This past weekend I babysat for two of my grandchildren (ages eleven and eight) and before each meal we took turns opening the book and singing the grace that was there.
Years ago Bishop Dale White of the United Methodist Church told me that at one point in his life he sometimes skipped grace, but once he started to travel around the world and saw the poverty and war and violence in which people lived, then—then he started being consistent with saying thanks before a meal.
In the November/December 2012 issue of Spirituality Health Magazine, there is an article titled “A World of Grace,” and it talks about this ritual which exists in just about all religions and just about all over the world. I was especially moved by one that they list coming from Latin America. I’ve heard it elsewhere too and it goes: To those who have hunger, give bread. And to those who have bread, give the hunger for justice.”
The article also mentions that you can use the American Sign Language sign for Thank You—and you can do that wherever you are. Put your flat hand to your lips and then move your hand down until your palm is facing up—Thank You!
