How do you pray before a meal?
 

I am really curious about this.

When I eat, I will mumble/think a quick "thank you" just before eating -whether it be a big formal meal or even a single cookie at some random time during the day. I don't differentiate.

Now my in-laws have been staying with us and THEY insist on a very long, very loud prayer being said, while everyone at the table holds hands, whether it be at home or in the middle of a restaurant. (This is bad enough but in addition, I don't think he has washed his hands in months -and that is not an exaggeration.) There is a bit of tension now because I told me wife that OUR tradition is to NOT do that, so we just stopped the other day when we went out and got glared at for several seconds as he 'thrust' his hand to us for the ritual, but we didn't 'take' it.

I am just curious if anyone else have a similar ritual or maybe are even MORE showy.

Not I am not asking anyone IF they pray before a meal. I am going to go out on a limb and assume that everyone here does in some fashion.

(You can vote for more than one selection)

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

We do not hold hands. We all bow our heads and say a short prayer of thanks in a normal "inside voice". This is the same whether at home or in a restaurant. I didn't choose a response on the poll because it falls somewhere in between the second and third choice. I don't put my hands together and the prayer only lasts between 10-30 seconds.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I am very comfortable with this example.

I've been extremely stressed this past week and we've (me and my wife) have been sneaking out to eat just so we don't have to eat with them (my father in law and his wife).

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I have never been a fan of the loud obnoxious restaurant praying myself. I also really dislike meal prayer time being used for other various prayer requests unless there is some emergency situation that just came up regarding someone's health, in which case I would give it a pass. I have a cousin that I dread going out to eat with because pre-meal prayer will be a minimum of 2 minutes long.

Sorry to hear about your inlaws. Especially the non-handwashing of FIL...:oops

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

There is not a choice for what we do. The closest is "Everyone at the table holds hands, as I praying out loud for all the restaurant to see and hear." But that one makes it sound like we do it loudly for a show. We do hold hands, and we do pray aloud, but not so loudly that "all the restaurant" will hear.

We also do not "BLESS" the food. The blessing is that God has given us food to eat, therefore we give Him thanks.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I almost forgot about the time that I went out to eat with someone from church who in addition to praying for the food with as loud a voice as possible, also began speaking in tongues. I really wanted to suggest reading I Corinthians 14 but I refrained. I also wanted to melt into the floor when it was happening.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

When I am alone, I pray a quick, silent 'thank you'. When together as a family, my husband prays a reasonable prayer, same as we do at home.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Obviously there is not a way to post a poll choice for every single circumstance. I thought being able to select more then one choice would allow people to mix and match a bit -sort of like mixing primary colors to make other ones. :)

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I came to my wits end this week and decided that our "tradition" in our house would supersede his. No hand holding -unless the two of them want to. LOL

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

We hold hands and pray respectfully.

We have been complemented, by so many over the years...

Our prayer is not loud, or for others just to see...

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Eddie always takes my hand and prays softly, even in a restaurant. I think it's sweet. When anyone else is with us, we don't all hold hands; that's too intimate to me. LOL!

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

That sounds good to me.

When we all go out and our hands are tightly grasping the person on each side of us, forming a circle, I always want to start raising and lowering my hands and shouting "BE Aggressive! BE BE Aggressive!". LOL

Then I would have to excuse myself to go WASH my hands since I always seemed to be next to my FIL and I would remember all the times he used our bathroom and I DIDN'T hear the sink run after wards.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

My wife puts her hair all over the food and asks that the angels come and eat first. They don't eat much - but that's probably because of all the hair in the food.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

At least her hair has probably been washed at least 24 hours before the meal. LOL

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

LOLOL!!! That was really bad!

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

At whole family meals we hold hands any pray - very softly in a restaurant. When I am out and about I do about half the time. I am ever thankful though!

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

With words? Hey, wait a minute, this is a trick question isn't it?

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I had to laugh out loud at this one. :ursofunny

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

LOL! No you didn't!!!!

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

With words, thoughts, gestures, or crazy wacky dances. :)

Does anyone cross their arms and rap about their food before they eat?

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Actually, I liked Pel's response better.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

If he hasn't washed his hands in months, does that mean he hasn't bathed in months?? :eeeew

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

It seems to be once a week.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

This reminds me of when we are at church and the pastor tells us to reach over and take our neighbors hand and pray. I try to put my hand on their shoulder instead. I can't pray while wondering where the hand has been washed.:sad

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

The grocery stores have those sanitizing wipes for the handles on the shopping carts now. Perhaps the emerging church will supply the saints with those foamy hand disinfectants like they have on cruise ships and in doctor's examining rooms. You know, in a font sort of like the Holy Water in a Catholic church.

It's become de rigeur to provide kleenex at the altar. We had one lady that always took a roll of toilet paper and put it right on top the pulpit. Whenever you walked in the church there was a roll of toilet paper on the pulpit. I recommended installing one of those toilet paper holders like the ones in the bathroom right on the side of the pulpit. I then demonstrated how it could be done aesthetically while I was preaching one Sunday morning. The toilet paper disappeared from the pulpit after that and the lady stopped coming to church. I guess I had a real "WPF" spirit in those days.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

What is the purpose of praying for our food? Are Americans really "thankful" for what they are eating or is it just a formality anyway?

Praying over my food took on a whole new meaning the first time I traveled to Africa.

My prayers focus on:

1. Thanking the Lord that He blesses my food and water and takes sickness and disease away from me

2. Receiving what is placed in front of me according to the Word and with thanksgiving so that it is sanctified by the Word and is good for me.

To me --- praying over our food is more about making sure that anything in it that shouldn't go into my body has no power over my health.

You also made a statement that I thought was good in that you pray over a cookie....good job! But I wonder how many people are taking medications that have the possibility of numerous side affects, yet they don't pray over their food?

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

How many think of this man when they think of praying for their food? Not to be showy, but to be genuinely thankful. Not to be SEEN or heard, other than by the Lord himself?

http://www.picturesofjesus4you.com/i..._praying_l.jpg

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

My husband and I bow our heads and he prays out loud unless we're in a really noisy place. If that happens we each pray to ourselves.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I pray out loud at restaurants also.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Randy, if your FIL doesn't wash his hands and bathe regularly, maybe he needs all the prayer concerning eating his food that he can give. Lord knows that sounds like a great way to get all types of bacterial and viral infections.

Maybe you should suggest the next time he's with you all that if he'd take more personal care toward his hygene, he wouldn't have to lay on the prayer so hard? :thumbsup:ursofunny

I'm now on my way to church to shake hands with a lot of people who don't wash their hands enough, I'm sure.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

It is YOUR house. They should respect YOUR wishes. I agree with you on this one.

I did not answer the poll. I pray according to the situation around me. I have been with folks who like to hold hands and pray but not loud and attention getting. I have said a quick 'Thanks' just before eating. It all depends.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

This is probably bad of me but when I know someone does not wash their hands enough I do my best to AVOID running into them so that I don't have to shake their hand. My wife carries antibacterial stuff with her all the time.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Told my son one time, after I cooked the meal, "Pray. Pray like you've never prayed before." He didn't skip a beat. Said "OK", bowed his head, and solemnly intoned, "ear-day Esus-jay,..." We all lost it! :toofunny

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Sometimes it is just easier to let people do what they want and then resume things as normal after they leave. Otherwise it can get to be a power struggle, especially if people think it has to be done their way.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I stand on the table and dance and sing. :D

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

I loved this picture when I was a little kid.

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

Before his first wife died (my wife's mother), she spent 20 years trying to change him. His current wife is much more lax so he has gotten far worse then he has ever been.

No, I like the idea of following OUR tradition and skipping the hand holding. :)
(The real power struggle come when it is time to pay the check. But that is a whole nudder story and subject.)

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

None of the above.

We just pray over the groceries as they are brought in.

That way don't have to pray over each meal.

:gotcha

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

:ursofunny

Re: How do you pray before a meal?
 

You probably meant this as a joke, but that's exactly what my MIL did!

Question for Randy...........How long are these folks going to be with you?