Remembering God's Goodness This Thanksgiving SeasonChikamu

In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Charlie and Snoopy sit down to eat with their friends at a thanksgiving meal. As they gather around the table, not yet aware the feast will be popcorn, pretzels, buttered toast, and jellybeans; Peppermint Patty suggests they say grace first. Linus offers a prayer of thanksgiving representative of what the first pilgrims might have prayed.

It’s a scene reminiscent of meals all over the world, and not just on Thanksgiving Day. But why pray before meals? Prayers before meals are often high on superstition and low on reflection. Monotony, more than meaningfulness, can characterize them. Many Christians have stopped praying before meals as a reaction to what feels formulaic.

However, mealtime prayers build into our day reminders that all good things come from God. Pausing to pray offers a chance to see things for what they are: gifts from God. God’s provision and generosity, evident in the spread before us, stir up gratitude. Scripture doesn’t command it, so don’t do it with guilt-driven motives. But the Bible commends and models it, not so much for the food’s sake but for our sake.

In John 6, when Jesus served as the warm host and lead chef who multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish, he “gives thanks” to the Father. The same description shows up in Acts 27:35 when Paul prayed aboard a ship. We see this language attached to meals throughout the New Testament (Rom. 14:6; 1 Cor. 10:30), including the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:27; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:14–23).

Meals provide a great intermission to slow down, sit, and re-tune our hearts and minds. By stopping to pray, we remind ourselves everything comes from God. It’s a concrete way to recognize and rejoice in God’s grace and goodness. Because we live out so much of our day in a here-and-now focus, this space helps us look upward. We’re prone to live in terms of the earthly, natural realm and forget how God intersects with life. Prayer around a table or in a booth unites the two back together so we live as dual citizens of heaven and earth.

For the next couple of days, build gratitude into your pre-meal prayers. Give thanks because the food looks and tastes good. Give thanks because the food is nutritious. Give thanks for the creativity and skill of the one who prepared the food. As you pray, reflect on one blessing from the day and give thanks. Practice giving thanks for how your meal gives a glimmer of God’s provision, goodness, and creativity.