Giving Thanks At Mealtime

A lesson in giving thanks from a yee-haw steakhouse!

COWBOY BOOTS-GIVING THANKS AT MEALTIME

This past week our family went out to dinner at a local steakhouse chain. You know the one that used to have free peanuts and two-steppin’ servers and plays country music’s top 40 and embarrasses birthday folk by making them sit on an oversized saddle! YEE-HAA! Yes, that’s the one!  And something in that loud and happy restaurant got me thinking…

I  love this restaurant! Kevin, one of the cooks, can make me the most perfect “Pittsburgh seared medium” ribeye EVER! It’s so good it could make you cry! YUMMY!

As is our habit, we all quietly held hands and prayed before we ate. We thanked God and asked Him to bless the food, the servers, and cooks and clean-up crew, our lives, and those whose stomachs are empty while ours are full! That evening our prayer did not go unnoticed like they usually do.

Our waiter, a handsome young man, probably a local college student, noticed. “Ma’am”, he said, ” I saw that your family prayed before dinner”. I nodded affirmatively. “Well, I just have to tell you that I don’t see that very much anymore, and I’m glad to see a family still praying together before meals.  My family does that too, so I notice these things”. When he left the table I looked around.

We live in LANCASTER COUNTY for heaven’s sake, I said to myself hoping I did not think out loud! It is not just the bible belt of the north, it’s the belt buckle, I thought! We probably live in the most Christian area in the northern United States. I’m surprised that there is not a hymn sing in the parking lot after dinner!

Taking an inconspicuous and nonjudgmental mental tally of all the people eating at that restaurant confirmed what our young waiter said. No one seemed to be praying. I really had never noticed before!

Now, maybe there were lots of people praying silently and meaningfully, I can’t say. But, as far as I could see it looked like everyone was diggin’ right into their loaded baked potatoes and prime rib!

If this is true, it breaks my heart! Have we, as a nation, forgotten where our blessings come from? Or do we just take them for granted and forget to thank THE SOURCE from which all blessings flow?

This has bothered me all week! 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 all over us! 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?

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 we just don’t see the blessings around us and if we don’t see them how can we be thankful for them?

Just think where we would be without air or 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…

Please wake up (respectfully)! Look around! You are BLESSED! Notice it and be thankful for those amazing blessings! And not just at mealtime. All day, every day!

I think we would all be more positive and grateful if we did that! “Give thanks in everything”!

Oh gosh, I’m getting a little dizzy up here on my soapbox so I will get down now!

Let’s be “the glass is half full” type of people because God has overflowed our glass with His Living Water! Take a minute right now! Even before you finish this post and thank God for something! Ask God to make Himself so big in your life, so big that you notice all of the extreme blessings He has lavishes upon you! And be thankful!

Here’s the Bible verse I’m memorizing this week…

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever. Ps 106:7

GIVING THANKS AT MEALTIME- COWBOY BOOTS

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24 Comments

  1. 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 .

  2. Carmen Wiker says:

    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! ☺️

  3. 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

    1. 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”.

      1. 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

        1. 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

    2. 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

  4. 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!

  5. 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

  6. Eva Lyons says:

    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.

  7. Karen Canty says:

    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.

  8. Glenda Shine says:

    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

  9. Hi Yvonne,
    Thank you for this beautiful post! I really needed this. You touched my heart.

  10. 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!

  11. 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!

  12. 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.

    1. 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.