Christian Reflection and Prayer

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD
your God for the good land he has given you.”—
Deuteronomy 8:10

The parents of a young man who was tragically killed in
military service were faithful congregants in a little church.
One day, they came to their pastor and told him that they
would like to make a significant contribution to the church
in memory of their son who died in battle. The pastor
commended them and said, “That’s a wonderful gesture
on your part. Do you mind if I share this with the
congregation?” The couple agreed, and so the next Sunday,
the pastor told the congregation about the generous
gift given in memory of the son.

On the way home from church, another couple was driving
down the highway when the husband said to his wife,
“Why don’t we give a gift because of our son?” His wife
looked at him baffled and replied, “But our son didn’t die
in any conflict! Our son is still alive!” Her husband explained,
“That’s exactly my point! That’s all the more reason we
ought to give thanks to God.”

Most religions of the world have the
concept of saying some type of grace before eating to
recognize that the food we have received is a generous gift
from God and that we are grateful. However, the main
practice regarding grace, the one that is mentioned in the
Bible, is saying grace after we have eaten and we are
satisfied. As Scripture says: “When you have eaten and
are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land
he has given you.”

The commandment to say grace after meals is also a
commandment to thank God after you are blessed in any
and all areas of your life.

We will always turn to God when we are troubled, however
it is precisely when things are going well that we have to
be no less diligent in turning to God – with our prayers,
praises, and gratitude.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

((excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)