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Post by ForeverFree on Apr 12, 2006 11:45:20 GMT -5
Ever notice how the request at the table to say grace out loud in the 2x2s is a rank and file order? Until you have professed, you don't get offered to say grace. If you profess or better yet a worker, you get all the opportunities. If you quit professing, you can't say grace anymore.
It's like you have no right or have given up the right to thank God for the food. It's like they have thier own God and you aren't allowed to talk to him!
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Post by sick of it on Apr 12, 2006 12:06:28 GMT -5
Yes, I've noticed that. I always got asked as I was the youngest. I never got to hear a worker saying grace as Pa always asked us kids when we had visitors.
I wished at the time that they woudn't ask me - I didn't profess anyway!
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Apr 12, 2006 12:19:43 GMT -5
I haven't noticed that at all, actually.
I guess it's like that in some areas. We usually ask our visitors to say grace, or we sing a grace. Doesn't matter if they are workers, professing, or not.
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Post by as i c it on Apr 12, 2006 12:27:30 GMT -5
I looked upon it as a sign of respect. And if another minister of another church were present, I'd "expect" them to say the grace....and appreciate them for doing so.
Unlike "ForeverFree", it was a "priviledge" I never "wanted" to be mine!!!
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Post by justamom on Apr 12, 2006 12:37:17 GMT -5
When I was living at home and professing and even when I left home and was still professing my dad would ask me to say grace...... but once I stopped professing and went home for a visit.. he went around the table each night to ask someone else to give grace but he skipped me every time.... not that it mattered to me... but I found it odd that I couldn't say grace if I wasn't professing....
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Post by LouLou on Apr 12, 2006 12:44:25 GMT -5
It's very much a status thing where I'm from. If workers are there they automatically get asked to say grace, even if there are other guests or important people there, and if there are no workers there it seems that the friends in the best standing get to say it. Sometimes kids get to if they have recently professed, I think it's too encourage them in the way and give them a new "perk" for making their choice. Personally I have always been self-conscious about it and hated to be put on the spot and therefore was always relieved that I hardly ever got asked. I recall a friend who had just decided to go into the work and his dad said that from then on he was going to say grace at every meal at their house for practice. He was visibly embarrassed but did it anyways. His father also made him lead the family Bible studies and basically "preach" to us all. Kind of creepy is you ask me.
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towit
Senior Member
. . .with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right. . .
Posts: 295
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Post by towit on Apr 12, 2006 12:48:22 GMT -5
I haven't noticed that at all, actually. I guess it's like that in some areas. We usually ask our visitors to say grace, or we sing a grace. Doesn't matter if they are workers, professing, or not. Withopeneyes, my experience is the same as yours. When I have a guest over to my home- and I know that he/she gives thanks for their food at their home, then I typically offer them the opportunity to "bless" our food. If the visitor isn't religious- then I will typically ask the blessing. The same goes for my business lunches. If I am by myself, I give thanks for the food quietly. If I am with colleagues at lunch that are religious- we typically ask who wants to ask the blessing for the meal. Sometimes it is the Baptist, sometimes it is the Catholic, sometimes it is the Methodist, and sometimes it is me. I enjoy hearing others prayers. Sincerely, towit |
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Post by Gracious me on Apr 12, 2006 12:51:12 GMT -5
I went to a home where the husband wasnt professing and HE said the blessing every time we went over for a meal with them. I liked his thanks - it was honest and sincere and in no way in "form". His wife was a lovely woman and he was the head of the house - professing or not. The home was quite respectful to all who entered, and were welcome.
I have seen some who wern't professing get asked by the professing man of the house to give thanks although not often.
Usually we sing Day by day - most people know that one if they have professing family.
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Post by think2much on Apr 12, 2006 12:51:59 GMT -5
Things that are "Appropriate" to be thankful for in a grace:
1) the food and the "hands that prepared it"
2) "the Gospel as it goes forth"
3) the servants and handsmaidens
4) the life of "Thy Son"
5) the meeting this morning/afternoon/evening
Things that usually are NOT appropriate to be thankful for:
1) A personal revelation
2) the bonds of personal family members and comforts of home
3) fellowship with other Christians (outside the 2X2s)
4) The blood of Christ (that's reserved for Sunday AM emblems)
5) Any type of "material" blessing
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Post by botany on Apr 12, 2006 15:58:35 GMT -5
My favorite mealtime grace: "Rub a dub dub, we thank thee for the grub. Amen" andy  [/b] |
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Post by you poor on Apr 12, 2006 16:58:13 GMT -5
Yes, I've noticed that. I always got asked as I was the youngest. I never got to hear a worker saying grace as Pa always asked us kids when we had visitors. I wished at the time that they woudn't ask me - I didn't profess anyway! you poor thing  |
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towit
Senior Member
. . .with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right. . .
Posts: 295
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Post by towit on Apr 12, 2006 17:24:14 GMT -5
My favorite mealtime grace: "Rub a dub dub, we thank thee for the grub. Amen" andy [/b][/quote] Andy, Don't forget- Dear Lord we thank thee for this food
As we know that you are the giver
But Lord, we thank thee most of all
That we aren't having liver.Author unknown Sincerely, towit |
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Post by firstborn on Apr 12, 2006 18:25:21 GMT -5
Heres one Andy,
We want to thank you father,son, and holy ghost,whoever eats the fastest eats the most!
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Post by bowhunter on Apr 12, 2006 18:31:17 GMT -5
Ever notice how the request at the table to say grace out loud in the 2x2s is a rank and file order? Until you have professed, you don't get offered to say grace. If you profess or better yet a worker, you get all the opportunities. If you quit professing, you can't say grace anymore. It's like you have no right or have given up the right to thank God for the food. It's like they have thier own God and you aren't allowed to talk to him! You have it right!!Thats how it is here in the midwest.We have been to many meals with the 'friends' and have not been asked in 5 years.It seems to be a status thing or punishment,I don't know which. |
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Post by cornsilk on Apr 12, 2006 19:44:02 GMT -5
When the workers are at our house, I expect hubby to ask the workers to give thanks. Instead, he usually asks me to lead a song because he loves the songs of grace. Works for us!
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Post by happy on Apr 12, 2006 19:50:23 GMT -5
My husband was never asked and finally asked me, "Is y'alls food not blessed if one of "us" asks the blessing?" Which lead to the conversation about why should unprofessing people pray? If God won't hear their request to bless the food, why would He consider bigger blessings? My eyes opened a little wider at that point....... The absurdities that were once normal!  |
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Apr 12, 2006 20:46:58 GMT -5
Ha, the other day we were singing Day by Day as the grace and my husband sang it like this:
Day by day thy children from Thy hand are fed.
Father now we thank Thee, for this GARLIC BREAD!
Hahahahaha. I made Italian food that night. Can you guess what he was most excited about?
Personal story here. When I was younger and, for the first time, was allowed to spend the night at someone's home who did not profess, I was comforted by their grace. They thanked God for ME being there!
From that time on, I've tried to make a point of making my own prayers during grace personal. There's also a professing elder who, in his Sunday morning prayer, prayed for my husband and I since it was our last meeting there and we were moving that evening. It meant the world to me that he had reached out to God for us in his prayer.
I figure the workers ALWAYS say grace whereever they go, and I try to remind my husband of that- so instead we can sing or one of us can say grace.
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Post by firstborn on Apr 12, 2006 21:01:16 GMT -5
Ever notice how the request at the table to say grace out loud in the 2x2s is a rank and file order? Until you have professed, you don't get offered to say grace. If you profess or better yet a worker, you get all the opportunities. If you quit professing, you can't say grace anymore. It's like you have no right or have given up the right to thank God for the food. It's like they have thier own God and you aren't allowed to talk to him! You have it right!!Thats how it is here in the midwest.We have been to many meals with the 'friends' and have not been asked in 5 years.It seems to be a status thing or punishment,I don't know which. I get it now, you know the list that goes around of the professing family's in your area , if you have a astrict by your name you can say grace! |
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Post by grace on Apr 12, 2006 21:23:01 GMT -5
At a funeral for an old worker who had not been able for the work for years........an elder was asked to pray.
First time for everything.
Never saw a saint pray at a formal function (funeral, special meeting, convention) before or since.
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liz
Senior Member
Posts: 285
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Post by liz on Apr 12, 2006 21:37:04 GMT -5
One of the first things I did once I stopped 'fessin was to no longer say grace before meals.
I realized I/we did it purely out of habit. It's simply a custom that had become meaningless to us.
I'm truly grateful for the blessings I have in my life! I just don't feel the need to thank God repetitively for the same one, over & over again, 3 times a day.
Why just thank God for his blessing only before a meal? Why not thank him each time you crawl behind the wheel of your car, or each time you are about to step over the threshold of your home, or each time you pull on your pants in the morning, or each time you enter your place of work or, or each time you write a check for groceries, or each time you get a paycheck, or, or, or..... the list goes on.
Grace before meals within the 2x2 paradigm became too fakey. Too long winded & then the food was cold. And especially infuriorating when the pray-er forgot to even mention being grateful for the food!!
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Post by nitro on Apr 12, 2006 21:55:31 GMT -5
Everything God has created is good, and no food is to be rejected, provided grace is said for it: the word of God and the prayer make it holy
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Post by happy on Apr 12, 2006 21:56:09 GMT -5
I still like giving thanks for the food. We like something to the effect of...please bless our food and may the strength received be used in your service. But we also thank for those at the table and the blessings of the day.
I also love sitting around the table to eat and visit.
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zing
Junior Member
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Post by zing on Apr 12, 2006 22:53:43 GMT -5
... ah yes, the traditional meaningless 2x2 grace... and all the tension it created....
once when my family members in the 2x2 group, came to my house, and I had put a meal on, it dawned on me, that now as an adult of my own home, I realized that they would expect to say grace, expect me to politely select one of them to 'go ahead' (honor their beliefs)... however I did not feel like catering to them, and was tired after a long morning of work, so I simply stated that dinner was ready, and popped up and sat on the kitchen counter, didn't say a thing, and sat there just looking at them, to see what they would do... my sister in law got all mad, confused and flustered, turned red in the face, then bowed her head silently for a moment, my mother looked at my brother in shock and confusion, by brother quirked his eyebrows and then dutifully bowed his head silently, to which my mother followed his example..... when they looked up I guess I was still staring at them... by brother could hardly conceal his mirth, to which my mother followed suit, although I think she was a bit ticked, and by the time they left even my sister in law had a twinkle of mirth in her eyes.... like I had pulled a great trick on them...
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Post by withopeneyes (Mandy) on Apr 12, 2006 23:04:53 GMT -5
Sometimes I get so caught up in the little things during my day, that that little prayer before my lunch is needed. It calms me, sets my thoughts right again, and helps me get through the rest of the day.
And when you have two wild toddlers, you need that.
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Post by I never say grace on Apr 13, 2006 2:04:52 GMT -5
I have never said grace. I merely observe a moment of respectful silence when dining with religious people. I prefer to give thanks...or to pray, at my own chosen time & place.
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Post by Greg Lee unplugged on Apr 13, 2006 3:11:59 GMT -5
Things that are "Appropriate" to be thankful for in a grace: 1) the food and the "hands that prepared it" 2) "the Gospel as it goes forth" 3) the servants and handsmaidens 4) the life of "Thy Son" 5) the meeting this morning/afternoon/evening Things that usually are NOT appropriate to be thankful for: 1) A personal revelation 2) the bonds of personal family members and comforts of home 3) fellowship with other Christians (outside the 2X2s) 4) The blood of Christ (that's reserved for Sunday AM emblems) 5) Any type of "material" blessing Edit: Things that are "Appropriate" for giving of thanks in a grace: 1) the food. |
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Post by no edit on Apr 13, 2006 3:26:30 GMT -5
Things that are "Appropriate" to be thankful for in a grace: 1) the food and the "hands that prepared it" 2) "the Gospel as it goes forth" 3) the servants and handsmaidens 4) the life of "Thy Son" 5) the meeting this morning/afternoon/evening Things that usually are NOT appropriate to be thankful for: 1) A personal revelation 2) the bonds of personal family members and comforts of home 3) fellowship with other Christians (outside the 2X2s) 4) The blood of Christ (that's reserved for Sunday AM emblems) 5) Any type of "material" blessing Edit: Things that are "Appropriate" for giving of thanks in a grace: 1) the food. where I come from the "hands that prepared it" was used quite often, especially by workers |
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Post by as i c it on Apr 13, 2006 14:03:07 GMT -5
no edit,
Me too ("hands that prepared it")
We have much to be thankful in our country, and saying grace (privately) before I eat is something I "appreciate" doing. (God has given us all that is in existence--out of His goodness and good-will toward us) and I don't thank him (for much of it). So..to thank Him for the food (and that I'm even in a country where there is food) is just a drop in the bucket (for all I should be thanking Him for!!!)
However, when workers are present--or elders--or visitors, I appreciate them saying grace.
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[/b]
