Giving Thanks When Dining Out

[One Son of Many]

When you are dining out (alone, with family or friends), do you remeber to give thanks and ask blessings over the meal? A few people I have been with seem embarassed by doing it in public. I try it keep it fairly short and not make a big scene of it (the Pharises come to mind....)

Oh, are prayers retro-active? If you start a meal and forget to give thanks for one reason or another, do you stop eating and give thanks then or finish the meal and then do it? I'm still new to the life and sometimes I catch myself into the second bite of a sandwich then realize I didn't give thanks. (Those old habits creep up on me from time to time)

 

[princess_ballet]

Occasionally we give thanks when we eat out, but we don't make a big deal of it (because that would be sinning).

Honeslty though? Most the time I don't give thanks before eating.

 

[Peter]

As a way of teaching my children that christianity is not a home thing or a church thing, but a life thing, we always ask God's blessing over the meal, at home or in public. When we visit a friends home, we observe their custom. In our home, we do ours.

Peace.

Peter

 

[Spidey76]

We never used to until we had our kids - when the oldest hit the talking age we started & now they say the prayer (after they sneak a fry or two!)

 

[RED that's ME]

My family gives thanks before we eat. Also when I am out with my friends in public I also give thanks. My parents instilled this in me since I was little not as a 'thing' to do but to be truly thankful for one of God's daily blessings.

 

[Stanfi]

This is something that God has been dealing with me about. I think it is a good thing. The Bible instructs us to give thanks to God in all things. We never prayed over meals growing up. When my cousin starting dating his wife, every time we ate we prayed. It seemed weird to me. Then i went out with a girl one time, and she wanted to me to pray before we eat.

The Bible says not to fear man, and that is what we are doing if we feel odd about praying before a meal in pulbic, and Christians are to be a pecuilar people. It is a very good thing to do, just odd if your not used to doing it. I imagine if you had done it all your life, it would be second nature to you.

 

[Mark W]

Depends... sometimes I give thanks before a meal. Other times, I give thanks after I eat it. When I give it afterwards, I am thankful for how it tasted, etc. In both cases, I ask God's blessings on it.

You can give thanks in a restruant without anyone knowing what you are doing. Many times I pray with my eyes open. (Christ did the same.)

In terms of setting an example, we can do that better by giving up our rights and expectations than by showing that we are giving thanks.

Blessings,

Mark

 

[One Son of Many]

My family gives thanks before we eat. Also when I am out with my friends in public I also give thanks. My parents instilled this in me since I was little not as a 'thing' to do but to be truly thankful for one of God's daily blessings.

I believe you have it exactly right! 'To be truly thankful for one of God's daily blessings'. Thank you!

 

[peaceful soul]

I very seldom think about saying prayer over my meals. I make it a habit to tell God thanks for all things regularly and throughout the day.

 

[immerliebe]

I usually pray before I eat when I go out in public but my family and I usually just pray to ourselves. *smiles* but like most ppl I think, I too have been known to forget frequently.

 

[HesMyAll]

I always give thanks before eating. I am no less a Christian when dining out than when at home. Of course I don't make a big deal about it. I just quietly bow my head and give thanks to the Lord.