“Thank you, God, for this food.
For rest and home and all that’s good.
For wind and rain and sun above,
But most of all, for those we love.”
Thus begins every meal in our house, unless Josh chooses to use the traditional Catholic prayer,
“Bless us, oh Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty,through Christ our Lord, amen.”The first prayer is my favorite, and I much prefer it to the second. Why? Please don’t think I’m trying to offend (and when people start with that phrase, it usually means that offense will be taken. I apologize in advance), but to me, a prayer of thanksgiving should have the word “thanks” in it. But that’s not why these are here…
We’ve said that first prayer for maybe four years now. It pretty much sums up everything that I’m thankful for, on a daily basis. There are other things, of course, that come and go, but that covers the gamut. And now I’m looking to expand Josh’s horizons…
We need a “good-night” prayer. There is, of course, the old standby, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” but I want something a little more universal than that. And I’d prefer something that doesn’t mention death last thing before he lays his head on his pillow. That always kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d like something that says “thank you for a good day”, even if the day wasn’t good. And something that looks forward, too. But it’s important to me that it not ask for anything.
So here’s my question… do you have any unique prayers that you say, at mealtime, bedtime, or otherwise? (and I do NOT mean, “oh, dear God, if you remove this hangover, I’ll become a priest and never drink again, amen.”)
Us Girls..Our Views 
To be honest, my kids and I don’t pray at regular intervals. We talk about God and talk to Him when the thought arises. It may be several times in one evening, and not at all on another evening.
Mostly I just say whatever seems relevant to pray about at the time, given my girls’ age. I also read from a couple of prayer books some mornings / evenings.
They have a prayer they say at school, which I also have in a prayer book:
Oh the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need,
Like the sun and the rain and the apple seed;
Oh the Lord is good to me . . . .
Thank you God for this good food, Amen. Now you may eat (yes, they think those last 4 words are part of the prayer, LOL).
I know this probably isn’t very helpful, but it seems to work for us. Every day is different, so it just makes sense for us to incorporate God into whatever we’re doing, instead of having a structured prayer time. I don’t think we prayed regularly at bedtime when I was a kid, either. Sometimes I did it on my own but it wasn’t a structured ritual. We prayed before dinner (and about 10x per day at school), went to church and Sunday School, and were otherwise on our own. But by the time I was 12 or 13, I was frequently having a silent chat with God, so the non-structured approach didn’t stop me from remembering Him.
I love that prayer SKL. I love “Like the sun and the rain and the apple seed.”
This is the last one I say at night because it’s a good closer! LOL! I think it summons up my day and gives me a moment to reflect on the things I did and am I truly thankful and sorry for, if need be.
Dear God,
Before I go to bed, please hear my last prayer. Thank you for all your help today and forgive me for any wrong I did. I am truly sorry. Keep in your care my mother, father and everyone I love. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
I have no special prayer, At night, I thank the Universe/God for everything, for the good things we have received and we were able to do, and for the lessons I learned that day.
When I get up, I thank for all the nice things I am gonna do that day and for all the positive that will happen to me and everybody else.
BTW What a great picture is that!
Isn’t it cute? I was contemplating having Josh pray, and take his picture… but I’d have to wait until morning, because I wrote this post at night. Just in case I forgot, or school stuff got in the way, I googled “child, pray”, and that one showed up. The boy looks soooo much like Josh, it’s spooky!
Cruiser, however, is insulted. He’s a golden retriever, and that is definitely NOT!
We don’t say prayers. I did read your post, and enjoyed it. I just didn’t want you thinking I didn’t take the time to read it. I just can’t comment. 🙂 Good luck on finding one that fits perfect!
I have a few we used to say with the kids for mealtime.
God bless this for food for which we take
And do us good for Jesus sake. Amen.
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
(You can sing this one if you want. The tune is the same as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star).
God is great, God is good
Let us thank Him for our food
We’re gonna thank Him morning, noon and night
We’re gonna thank Him ‘cuz He’s outta sight
Amen.
Come Lord Jesus be our guest
and let these gifts to us be blesses. Amen.
Every once in a while I’d let them get away with “Grace.”
When you ask who’s going to say Grace, the first one who said it, I’d let it pass.
Night was different. When they were little, I have to admit to the “Now I lay me down to sleep” one. But we said this instead of “if I should die before I wake.”
“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
See me safely through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.”
I still say that prayer at night. I add please bless my parents, kids, grandkids. For everyone to get where they are going safely. I thank him for the day and for everything I have. But I’d let the kids add on what they wanted to add on. I think it was just as much about saying a prayer at bedtime and being alone with each of them for a few minutes.
I’m sure I’ll think of another one and will be back. We changed them up.
Being the traditional Catholic that I am, we say the “Bless us, oh Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty,through Christ our Lord, amen” for dinner unless we are camping then it’s “Rub a dub dub thanks for this grub. Amen.”
For bedtime we always say the Our Father and then add God Bless… Mom, Dad and even my sister, etc.
I personally pray with the kids (individually) each night at bed time. The Bible says to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise.” So we generally start off that way.
“Heavenly Father we thank You and praise you for all things. Thank You for our family and all things You have provided us. We especially thank You for keeping us safe. (Ps 91 says in part that God gives His angels charge over us in all our ways) Keep Your angels around us too keep us safe from any harm whatsoever. We especially thank You for Jesus, Who died on the cross for our sins.
Help us Lord to walk closely with You every day of our life. We love You and bless Your name. It is in the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
Then I tell each of them to say their own prayers. As I’m walking out the door I usually hear our son begin, “Dear God, I love You. Keep Your angels around me…”
That may not be word for word but that’s the gist of it. Additionally, if there was anything that sticks out that day we pray about that. If someone is sick or injured or someone received an award at school etc.
At night I usually just talk to God. It’s in the form of a prayer, but it’s not formal at all.
At dinner we say: “Dear Lord, Thank you for this food we are about to (or already) receive. Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Bert, Ernie, Family and friends. Please watch over those who need your love and guidance. In your name we pray, Amen.”
Then Bert says: “God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hand we all are fed. Give us Lord our daily bread. Amen”
I am bad about reminding the boys to pray before bed. any ways you use to remember?
Dear God,
Before I go to bed, please hear my last prayer. Thank you for all your help today and forgive me for any wrong I did. I am truly sorry. Keep in your care my mother, father and everyone I love. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
Plus
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory be to the father
Angel of god my guardian dear to whom gods love n commit me here ever this night be by my side to light n guide to rule n guard amen
Now I lay myself to sleep
In Italian I say atto di dolore to forgive my sins n then good night