Giving Thanks, Sans Religion

To be healthy we must nourish our mind, body and soul. Part of being human is being ceremonial, and throughout our existence ceremony has revolved around 'higher powers' whether Gods, Goddesses, or Nature itself. I have a need--it's not innate or instinctual, but very close to--to express my gratitude for those things that nourish my wellbeing.

These table blessings are non-religious and gathered with a child in mind. I intend to print them on index cards and bind them together with the intention of reading one with my daughter at each meal.

Non-Religious Table Blessings

With what we are about to receive, may we be ever mindful of the needs of others.

Sing praise to the Mother Earth, Sing praise to the Father Sun, Sing praise to the plants in the garden, Where Mother and Father are one.

Thanks for our health, thanks for our hearth, And the bounty that grows from the ground. With our loved ones near, we bless the year, That's brought us safely 'round.

Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food we eat, Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you God for everything.

Thank you God for food and care. Teach us how to love and share.

God is great! God is good! Let us thank Him for our food.

We thank Thee Lord, for happy hearts, For rain and sunny weather. We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food, And that we are together.

O Thou, Sustainer of our body, heart, and soul. Bless all we receive In thankfulness.

Thank thee for the night, And for the morning light. For rest and food and loving care, And all that makes the day so fair. Help us do the things we should To be to others kind and good, In all we do, in all we say, To grow more loving every day.

God, we thank you for this food, For rest and home and all things good; For wind and rain and sun above, But most of all for those we love.

Thank you God for all that grows, Thank you for the sky's rainbows, Thank you for the stars that shine, Thank you for these friends of mine, Thank you for the moon and sun, Thank you God for all you've done!

Thanks to the Earth, Thanks to the Sky, Thanks to the plants and animals That helped create this food divine.

We who sit to eat Know that more than our bodies will be fed. With this food Fill us with beauty, Fill us with joy, Fill us with peace.

We give thanks to all who've come before us, To those who dug the wells from which we drink, To those who built the house in which we live, To those who grew the food which we eat. May our lives be a blessing to those yet to come.

How beautiful this food. How beautiful these friends. We give thanks.

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