Try a new prayer of thanks for your meal!

Liven up mealtimes by learning some new ways to say grace at mealtimes. Here are some fun prayers for you to try with your children and teens.

Table graces for children

(For this grace, list the food on your plate, ending with "meat")

Lord, You give good things to eat
Like spuds and carrots, peas and meat.
May all the things we say and do
Show our love and thanks to You. Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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(Recite with the same rhythm as the nursery
rhyme, Pop Goes the Weasel. Shout or clap on the words "stop" and "go" if you wish.)

Every day around this time,
We gather at the table,
But before we take a bite,
We STOP and say thank you.
Thanks to those who bought the food,
Thanks to those who cooked it,
Most of all we thank You, Lord,
Now GO ahead and eat it!

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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(Kids will enjoy doing the actions mentioned in this one)

A shake of salt,
A pinch of spice,
But our meal is not complete,
'Til we stir each heart with loving words,
That make our mealtime sweet.
Please help us do that now, Lord. Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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(Based on the song, If You're Happy and You Know It)

To say thank You for this food,
We clap our hands (clap, clap).
To say thank You for this food,
We clap our hands (clap, clap).
Yes we're thankful and we know it,
And to You, Lord, now we show it,
To say thank You for this food,
We clap our hands (clap, clap).

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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(Sing this grace to the tune of Sing a Rainbow)

Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue,
For food all the colours,
Of the rainbow,
Oh Lord we thank you!
Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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For every comfort we enjoy,
For food before us set,
We thank You, Father,
Through Your love,
Our needs are always met.
Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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(Sing to the tune of Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho from the movie Snow White)

We know,
We know,
From whom all blessings flow.
We thank Him then,
We say amen.
We know, we know, we know.

(Repeat and add an extra "we know" at the end.)

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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(Can be spoken or sung – search the Internet for the tune)

Thank You for the world so sweet (dum-di-dum),
Thank You for the food we eat (yum yum),
Thank You for the birds that sing (a-ling a-ling),
Thank You God for everything.
Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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(Sing this grace to the tune of
Frere Jacques/Are You Sleeping?)

Lord, we thank You,
Lord, we thank You,
For our food,
For our food,
And our many blessings,
And our many blessings.
Amen. Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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(Sing to the tune of London Bridge)

God is great and God is good,
God is good,
God is good.
Let us thank Him for this food,
Alleluia!

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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Table graces for teens

Lord, we thank You
For You've been faithful to provide for us once again.
Just as You are faithful,
Help us to be faithful too;
To be someone friends can count on,
To always be there for them,
And someone friends can look up to,
Inspiring others by the way we live for You.
Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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Thank you, Lord, for this food,
To satisfy our hunger.
We remember that You, Lord,
Are the Living Bread,
The only One who can truly satisfy,
The deepest longings of our heart.
Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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Thank you, Lord,
For the richness of this food,
In colour, taste and texture,
And that it tastes all the sweeter,
For this blessing:
That we can enjoy it with those we love.
Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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Lord, we thank You for this food.
As we receive all You give,
Help us to trust You more:
To trust in Your generosity,
For You are eager to bless us,
To trust in Your love,
For You will never reject us,
To trust in Your strength,
For You want to work through us.
Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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Lord, thank You for this food.
It's yet another reminder,
Of this truth from Lamentations:
That You are good to those whose hope is in You,
To those who seek You.
Amen.

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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(A prayer based on Psalm 107:8-9)

Lord, we give You thanks
For Your unfailing love
And Your wonderful deeds for us,
For You satisfy the thirsty,
And fill the hungry with good things.
Amen.

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(A prayer based on 1 Chronicles 29)

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power
And the glory and the victory and the majesty,
For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours.
We thank You and praise Your name,
For all this abundance comes from Your hand.
Help us keep joy and gratitude in our hearts
And direct our hearts toward You.
Amen.

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(A variation of the Prayer of St. Francis)

Lord, may this food strengthen us to
be instruments of Your peace,
Where there is hatred, help us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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Lord, we thank You
For the food before us
The [friends and] family beside us
The love between us
And Your presence among us. Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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(A prayer entitled World Hunger Grace)

For food in a world where many walk in hunger,
For faith in a world where many walk in fear,
For friends in a world where many walk alone,
We give You humble thanks, O Lord.
Amen.

^{(Source: Public domain)}

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Table graces for Christmastime

(This is a nice table grace to sing when gathered with friends and family at Christmastime. Sing it together to the tune of Christmas, Why Can't I Find You? as sung by Cindy Lou Who in the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas.)

O Lord we thank You,
For those who've joined us,
To share this meal today,
And now Lord Jesus,
We ask Your blessing,
On all who've gathered here, we pray.

(Repeat once if you wish)

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}

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(For this prayer, whisper the first two occurrences of "Immanuel," but say the last one loudly and joyfully. You may need to explain that "Immanuel" means "God is with us.")

In the midst of our decorating, shopping and baking,
Christmas whispers, "Immanuel."
In the midst of our parties and merry-making,
Christmas whispers, "Immanuel."
Help us pause, Lord, while this food partaking,
To rejoice in the promise, "Immanuel."

^{(Source: Focus on the Family Canada, 2013)}