Giving Thanks At Mealtime
A heartwarming reminder from a steakhouse visit about the importance of giving thanks and noticing God’s blessings every day.
Recently, our family went out to dinner at a local steakhouse chain—you know, the one that used to hand out free peanuts and had servers who two-stepped between tables. Country music played loud and proud, and anyone celebrating a birthday had to sit on a giant saddle while everyone yelled, “YEE-HAW!” Yes, that one. And something in that happy, boisterous restaurant got me thinking.
I love this place! Kevin, one of the cooks, makes the most perfect Pittsburgh-seared medium ribeye I’ve ever had. It’s so good it could make you cry!
Who knew a young waiter in this ruckus, fun restaurant could serve me a delicious meal and give me food for thought, as well.
Praying Before Meals
As is our family’s habit, we quietly held hands and prayed before our meal. We thanked God and asked Him to bless the food, the servers, cooks, and clean-up crew. We also prayed for those whose stomachs were empty while ours were full. That evening, our prayer didn’t go unnoticed.
Our waiter, a polite young man, probably a college student, approached and said, “Ma’am, I noticed your family prayed before dinner.” I smiled and nodded. He continued, “I just have to tell you, I don’t see that much anymore. My family prays before meals too, so it stood out to me.”
When he walked away, I looked around the restaurant.
There Must Be Others
We live in Lancaster County, for heaven’s sake! It’s often called the Bible Belt of the North, maybe even the belt buckle! Surely others were praying too. But as I quietly observed, I realized our young waiter was right. No one else seemed to be praying. I had never noticed that before.
Now, maybe there were people praying silently, and that’s wonderful. But from what I could see, most were already digging into their loaded baked potatoes and prime rib or were on their phone.
If that’s true, it breaks my heart. Have we, as a nation, forgotten where our blessings come from? Or do we take them for granted and forget to thank the One who gives them?
We Are Blessed
Thinking about this really bothers me. Not in an angry way, but in a sad way. Our nation, our county, our area, our town, our neighborhood, our home, and our families have been richly and lavishly blessed! God has poured his mercy, grace, blessing, love, and salvation all over us! His blessing truck literally follows us around dumping blessings wherever we go! Do we notice? Are we thankful? Do we even care?
Are we like some teenage kids who feel entitled? You know, the ones whose parents feel unappreciated and unloved? Is this how my heavenly Father feels?
What God Says
The Bible says…
IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Here’s what I think often happens, for I speak from experience. Sometimes, we get so busy in the business of life that we just don’t see the blessings around us. So, how can we be thankful for all these blessings if we don’t see them?
Just think where we would be without air, water, or gravity. How many sleepless nights do we spend worrying that the sun won’t rise or a giant asteroid will come crashing down on us and destroy the Earth? Most of us don’t think or worry about such things. We take them for granted! Here’s the good news: We don’t have to worry about those things. Jesus has them in HIS control and has given us promises in His word about them.
Here’s what I say to you, ME, and everyone reading this…
A Little Loving Rant
So, friend, let’s wake up and notice the blessings all around us! Be thankful, not just before meals, but all day, every day. Gratitude changes our perspective and softens our hearts. “Give thanks in everything.”
Oh dear, I might be getting a little dizzy up here on my soapbox, so I’ll step down now.
Let’s choose to be glass-half-full people, because God has already filled our glass to overflowing with His Living Water. Before you even finish this post, take a moment to thank Him for something specific. Ask Him to open your eyes to see His blessings everywhere, and be thankful.
A Verse To Ponder
Here’s a good verse from the Bible to think about this week..
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever. Ps 106:7
More Posts About Thankfulness And Thanksgiving
Happy Sunday, friends!
Very well said Yvonne!. When my husband and I go out we to have a word of Thanks before our meal. Thankyou for this reminder for us to be so Thankful .
Good Morning Yvonne,
We met a local restaurant last Sunday. It was so nice to meet you in person . I couldn’t agree with you more about being thankful to our Father in heaven. I believe because we live in such a comfortable society we forget where that comfort comes from. God is sovereign and if we live in comfort it is only because he allows it as a blessing but it seems to me that most folks think they are to be credited for what they have. Christians that live under persecution understand the sovereignty of God as only He can sustain them through it. Unfortunately here in Lancaster County there is some bad teaching in churches just like anywhere else. That is why we need to tell people the real gospel. Now I will get off my soap box! ☺️
Hi Carmen, It was so nice to meet you!
Such a good post Yvonne. This really convicted me. As a new widow I find it hard at times to be thankful for my situation but I realize how thankful I am to have had my best friend in my life for 39 years.
Thank you for the reminder!
Betsy
Same here, Betsy. It is hard to be thankful at times and other times I remind myself that “it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”.
Dear Nicole, this world is full of sad times. I understand. In my life, I have lost people I love. My only sister and best friend died 5 months ago. It is hard. Hebrews 15 talks about the “sacrifice of praise”. Even in our worst times, God is with us and His love and grace and mercy and kindness and goodness towards us NEVER change. That is worth thanking Him for even through our grief. xo
I am in the same situation as Betsy except that I had 42 years with my best friend……a great, and needed, post…. so many thanks, Yvonne
God bless you, Ester!
I had 56 years with my best friend, my rock, my hero, my confident.
Life does go on, but it’s hard!
Prayers to all of us.
So sorry! God bless you, Susan. God still has work for you to do for the kingdom.
Betsy,
I, too, was widowed recently after losing my best friend, my rock, my hero and I understand. We need to stop and thank God for our paths crossing and for having our husbands in our lives for 39 and 56 years. Tho this is hard to do, I know God has a plan for each of us. God is good!
My condolences.
Susan
How sweet Susan. So sorry for your loss!
Thank you, Yvonne.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for this beautiful story. I feel blessed today because of God loving me and for you for spreading His wonderful words to all of us!
Thank you Nana!
LOVE IT. I’m not sure how I found your blog – I think from someone else I’m following – you must have been part of her blog in some fashion but I think I’m gonna like it based on this post alone. ALWAYS give thanks even if it’s quick prayer
Welcome to the StoneGable family, Sharon! God bless you!
Thank you for this, Yvonne! Years ago, we lived in Kentucky not far from the home of jockey, Pat Day. One day in the McDonalds, he stood and offered thanks to God and blessing on all of us. Heads bowed around that fast food restaurant, it truly felt like we were not among strangers but the body of Christ. We are back in the Northeast now, and our family prays quietly at our table, but I miss that atmosphere of openly lived faith.
Oh, Eva!Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
Hi Yvonne,
Love this post! It brought tears to my eyes because when I stop and think about ALL the blessings God gives us it is overwhelming!
Saying grace before our meals is just one small way to thank Him but is so important.
Also condolences to you and your family on the passing of your sister.
May her soul rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Karen C.
Thank you, Karen!
Yvonne,
The first thing I look forward to each Sunday is reading your post. You are an excellent source for God smacking me upside the head and reminding me that in my physical struggles with a rare form of MS, in the loss of my Sister in Law this year from Bone Cancer, in the frustration of my grown children moving further each year from God, that I am so very blessed each and every day.
The daily frustrations of life are just that, daily, they come and they go. God’s love, grace and salvation are eternal, praise the Lord!
Glenda
Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for this beautiful post! I really needed this. You touched my heart.
Yvonne
Wonderful post! Yes, we, in America, take our blessings for granted. We have become an ungrateful society! My family also gives thanks before each and every meal, at home and in public. My little 9 yr old granddaughter even gives thanks for the meal (if its her turn) publicly and she prays the sweetest blessings!
Thank you for this reminder. I grew up in a family that always said a blessing over our meal, 3x a day. I am not good about doing it in my own home, so thanks for this reminder. We are indeed blessed!
Dear Yvonne,
Thank you for a very meaningful and inspiring post, as always.
From reading your response to Nicole, I was very sorry to learn of the loss of your sister. It quite jolted me because over the years, you have spoken so fondly of Lisa on your blog. I always enjoyed your references to her because I love my sisters so much too.
Please accept my sincere condolences to you, your Mom and your family.
May Lisa rest peacefully in the arms of our wise, loving and merciful Father.
Thank you, Gail. I still can’t believe she is gone. I miss her so much every day!!! I know I will see her again as she trusted the Lord for her salvation. And died confidently knowing she was going HOME and we would be joining her soon. Praise God for his great love in giving me such a beautiful sister to share life with.
Yvonne, bless you for this “awakening” message. Being in the Southern Bible Belt, we always say grace before meals. When I eat lunch out by myself, I always say grace. Our family always says grace at home. But, to be honest, and I don’t know why, when Sweet Shark and I, or when we are with other family members at a restaurant, we don’t. No one ever decided this, we just don’t. I’m going to bring this up when part of our family is here for Thanksgiving. (Bless you in Lancaster County and the rest of Pennsylvania. Praying you all help God stay at our nation’s center.)
Thank youn and Amen!
Thank you, Yvonne. Your words are always a blessing!
I could not agree with you more. AMEN Yvonne, AMEN.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts-they, as you know, are in line with God’s Word! May our Heavenly Father send a revival across our nation and individual hearts!!!
I love your Sunday thoughts and look forward to them!!!
My husband and I were at a Freddy’s Hamburger restaurant several months ago. Before we ate, we thanked the Lord for our food as usual. A few minutes later a gentleman (we are in our 70s, and he was some younger) came to us and thanked us for praying. I guess even in North Texas, it’s not seen as often anymore.
Yvonne, Thank you for your post!!! It is true, folks get caught up in the busyness of life, that they either, don’t see their blessings or they fail, to thank God for them. All that we have, is from the Lord,who lavishly bestows His gifts and rewards, upon us.
We also pray when we are at restaurants. I can see I don’t see it much here in the Mitten. Thanks for the beautiful post and they reminder to give thanks always!
This is such a good reminder! I may miss some posts throughout the week, but the Sunday one is one I don’t miss. Thank you for such a good reminder. A September event, horrible though it is, brought more people back to Christ and his teachings, me included. I am now making sure to do a daily devotional and read the Bible. Have a Blessed Day! And I’m thankful for you.
Yes, I agree. God bless Erika and the children. God is working!
You have read my mind. All week my prayers have been for me to not be so consumed with busyness, the everyday things I’m doing, and routines of the day that I forget to be knowledgeable of His presence, His mercy, His grace, His abundant blessings saturating my life. How can I be so unaware!!? How self-centered we are! I need to remember I am His servant. I serve Him. I do all for Him. Oh how I pray for Him to interrupt me constantly with loving thoughts of His constant presence. That would be joy!!
What a beautiful prayer, Mary! I join you in your prayer.
God bless you and God bless America.
In God we trust,
Melinda
So sweet, Melinda! God bless you, too!
Thank you for this message Yvonne! You’re such a great example of how God uses us in so many different ways. We too pray before every meal and our grandchildren sing their prayer and sometimes it is LOUD! I know God has just the right person hear it too!
Thanking God for you, Yvonne. I look forward to these messages each week and I can’t tell you the number of times I have shared them with others. As well, I love how I have seen God’s hand at work tying something He is teaching me right along with your weekly message. The fact that God cares for us in those small ways as well as the big things in our life always amazes me. So thankful he He loves us that much!!!
Love & Blessings….Aliecia
So an I, Aliecia! God bless you!
Thank you for your winderful piece on gratitude!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for your gentle reminder to give thanks in all things. I love your decorating and your encouraging words.
Do you have a business in Lancaster? My husband and I belong to the National Christian Choir and we travel to Lancaster every Christmas to give a concert. Maybe you have been to one of our concerts, or perhaps you need to look us up on the web – The National Christian Choir.org – and come see us in concert on Saturday Dec. 6 at Warwick High School at 2pm.
Just a thought.
How lovely, Ellen! I do not have a brick and mortar business. StoneGable is my business.God bless you and your choir!