Why? Why do you bless your meal? Is it because you were taught to as a child? Is it because you think saying the same thing to God is going to get you favor? Is it because you think the food is not going to nourish your body if you don’t? I mean really, why?

I used to always say blessings before I fed my children when they were at home. They used to roll their eyes because my prayers got quite lengthy at times.

Now that I am eating alone and they are gone I rarely say blessings over my food.

Yesterday my boyfriend cooked dinner for me and it was so scrumptious looking that I felt led to bless the food. He also cooked lunch for me and I blessed that. As I was blessing the food I wondered why I blessed this meal and completely forgot about blessing the breakfast I had eaten while at a church membership meeting in the morning.

Was it because I thought his meal may make me sick? Absolutely not, he is a terrific cook and I have never gotten sick from something he made.

Was it because he was my boyfriend and I was trying to be a good Christian girlfriend? Maybe that was it because during the lunch blessing I asked much more of God, I asked him to bless the day, not just the meal. I also thanked him for a boyfriend who didn’t mind spending his Saturday staining my front door with me. He also helped me out with many other things yesterday.

I was taught to bless the meal as a child. My Dad always blessed our meals. He said the same thing at every meal and it was almost like a lullaby to me. I love to hear him bless meals.

As I have grown older though I have become aware of how tired and bored God must be with the repetition of the common meal blessings. I know how I hate to be bored so I have started something new.

I have begun to ask him to bless my day, I have invited Him to be present in my life. I told Jesus I wanted him to ride shotgun on a trip to Florida because my son had been in a wreck and I knew I was going to be speeding the whole way there. I have asked God to come along on shopping trips. I asked Him to be present yesterday when my boyfriend was coming over to do some honey do’s for me.

When I do this the days are just so much fun. Tasks get done with laughter and kindness weaved throughout the time.

So am I saying that it is wrong to bless your food? No, what I am saying is that you may not want to do only that. Why not try asking God to bless your day and see what God can do?