General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I hate when people pray over their food aloud in public [View all]Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)and need more constant reminders?
When I was a kid I was taught to say grace. The words were, "Thank you, Lord, for your bounty. Bless this food to our use and us to your service, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Amen."
I don't think being taught to be thankful that we have food to eat and reminding ourselves that others do not so that we should share what we do have is a bad or hypocritical custom.
I do not often follow this custom myself, but I do find it helpful when I am very grieved, especially by the loss of a family member. Then it reminds me that things could be worse, that I should try to be thankful for what I do have, and that the way to deal appropriately with suffering and sorrow is to try to improve the lives of others. At least it does not leave one in the isolation of grief.