Earth who gives to us this food,
Sun who makes it ripe and good,
Sun above and Earth below
To you our loving thanks we show.
Blessings on our meal and peace on Earth
*
For health and strength and daily bread
We give our thanks today
With hands joined, folded gently on the table, or crossed over our hearts, we sing these words to express deep gratitude for the nourishment we take into our bodies and the company shared around the table. What better place to instill a sense of gratitude. When so many families in the city we live face impoverishment and have little access to healthy, nutritious, whole foods, it’s of even greater importance to recognize the abundance in our lives and the abundances we share at Lifeways. I am ever grateful that I am able to provide a good healthful meal to all the children at Lifeways to help stimulate their minds and aid their growing bodies. With simple recognition of the privileges we hold, we can begin to value and understand what we have to be thankful for. I see gratitude everyday at Lifeways, whether it be in saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ or a reminder to do so. I see gratitude when Jasper, with beaming face and bright eyes, thanks me personally for the sunflower seeds and cranberries I put in the salad. Such expressions bring forth things other than gratitude – love, respect, compassion, reverence, understanding, all which help encourage our devotion to one another and honor everything we may receive.
Gratefully yours,
Miss Monica
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