http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=3296

That pause before the meal inspires us across cultures. Artist Nikki McClure adds her touch to our collection of mealtime prayers from around the world.
Nikki McClure of Olympia, Washington is known for her painstakingly intricate and beautiful papercuts. Armed with an X-acto knife, she cuts out her images from a single sheet of paper and creates a bold language that translates the complex poetry of motherhood, nature, and activism into a simple and endearing picture. VISIT HER WEBSITE: www.nikkimcclure.com Purchase poster of A World of Grace. JUST $3 (+ shipping) 11x17 1.66mb Download pdf poster of A World of Grace.		Illustration by Nikki McClure.

		LATIN AMERICAN To those who have hunger Give bread. And to those who have bread Give the hunger for justice.
		BUDDHIST This food is the gift of the whole universe. Each morsel is a sacrifice of life, May I be worthy to receive it. May the energy in this food Give me the strength To transform my unwholesome qualities Into wholesome ones. I am grateful for this food. May I realize the Path of Awakening, For the sake of all beings.
		MUSLIM All praises are due to Allah who gave us sufficient food to eat and who satiated our thirst while such food is needed by us all the time and while we are not ungrateful to Allah.
		ASHANTI, GHANA Earth, when I am about to die I lean upon you. Earth, while I am alive I depend upon you.
		SELKIRK GRACE, SCOTTISH Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it. But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.
		CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S PRAYER Thank you God for the world so sweet, Thank you God for the food we eat. Thank you God for the birds that sing, Thank you God for everything.
		APOSTOLIC, ARMENIA The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord, And Thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest Thy hand and fillest all things Living with plenteousness.
		HINDU, INDIA Before grasping this grain, let us consider in our minds the reasons why we should care for and safeguard this body. This is my prayer, oh God: May I be forever devoted at your feet, offering body, mind, and wealth to the service of truth in the world.
		COPTIC, EGYPT Bless, O Lord, the plants, the vegetation, and the herbs of the field, that they may grow and increase to fullness and bear much fruit. And may the fruit of the land remind us of the spiritual fruit we should bear.
		MOTHER TERESA, CATHOLIC, CALCUTTA Make us worthy, Lord, To serve those people Throughout the world who live and die In poverty and hunger. Give them, through our hands This day their daily bread, And by our understanding love, Give peace and joy.
		SIOUX, NATIVE AMERICAN I'm an Indian. I think about the common things like this pot. The bubbling water comes from the rain cloud. It represents the sky. The fire comes from the sun, Which warms us all, men, animals, trees. The meat stands for the four-legged creatures, Our animal brothers, Who gave themselves so that we should live. The steam is living breath. It was water, now it goes up to the sky, Becomes a cloud again. These things are sacred. Looking at that pot full of good soup, I am thinking how, in this simple manner, The Great Spirit takes care of me.
		JEWISH Praised are You, our God, Ruler of the universe, who in goodness, with grace, kindness, and mercy, feeds the entire world. He provides bread for all creatures, for His kindness is never-ending. And because of His magnificent greatness we have never wanted for food, nor will we ever want for food, to the end of time. For His great name, because He is God who feeds and provides for all, and who does good to all by preparing food for all of His creatures whom He created: Praised are You, God, who feeds all.

Sources:

VARIOUS ::
Compilation of graces by Azuka Nwigwe, Grail World Magazine
www.grailworld.com/GraceIndex.htm

SAYING GRACE
Mealtime Prayers Around The World

Azuka Nwigwe

Whether you're a Hindu, Muslim, Jew or Christian, Armenian, Scottish, African or Native American… if you believe there is a higher power in Creation that made life on this earth possible, then it's likely you have at some point in your life said or thought words of gratitude before a meal. "Grace" is the name for any prayer said before or after a meal, giving thanks to whatever higher power you believe in for the meal you are either about to eat or have just enjoyed. Reciting a prayer, either precomposed or improvised on the spot, is normally referred to as 'saying grace' and is a practice recognized the world over. Saying grace brings people together in the sharing of the gift of food, can lead to better dietary habits, and helps us realize the sacrifice of other living beings, plants and animals to sustain our lives. Many households observe the tradition of stopping before a meal to reflect and give thanks for the food and other good things in our lives and on our tables. One can be creative with a mealtime grace, but some religions have specific guidelines for mealtime prayers.

It is important to bear in mind that the Western world generally uses the word "grace" to mean any mealtime prayer. However, the word in this context is specifically Christian: Jews, for instance, would not call their mealtime prayer "grace," nor would Muslims. However, each religion considers the food put in front of us as a Grace from God, and it is in this context that we use the word.

In Christianity, grace is the loving generosity of God. It is the free, or unmerited favor or beneficence of God and a state of sanctification by God. For the followers of Krishna, the ancient spiritual classic, the Bhagavad-Gita stresses the importance of remembering where our food came from before we enjoy. Food partaken with thanks to God becomes "Prasad" (a consecrated offering), and aying grace cleanses the food of three impurities: lack of cleanliness of the vessel, of the foodstuff and of the preparation process. In the Muslim faith, a verse from the Koran, instructs Mohammed's faithful on the sacred origins of food and the requirement for food prayers: "Eat of your Lord's provision, and give thanks to Him." Muslims say a prayer at the end of the meal, as well as at the beginning.

Buddhism's history is rich with reverence for food and thankfulness for its nourishment. Buddhists have used prayers of blessing and offering in everything from the cultivation of crops to the dedication of each plate of food to the betterment of humanity. Food can be truly blessed only when the one giving thanks has lived a life of service to both the universe that has given the food and those who suffer and are without food. And in the Hebrew Scriptures, grace is loving kindness. The duty of saying grace after the meal is derived from Deut. viii. 10: "And thou shalt eat and be sated and shalt bless the Lord thy God for the goodly land which he has given thee."

For some, like Native Americans, saying grace is a way to acknowledge one's place in creation. For others, like 20th century author Abd-ru-shin, saying grace is an opportunity not just to recite words of thanks mindlessly, but to experience them inwardly so their full meaning comes to life for you.

Click one of the links below to view various mealtime graces from throughout the world.