Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 49, 16 February 1945, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatf.-ifc Ministers' Association)

GRACE FOR THIS DAY 1 don't quite know how it started. Maybe because we listen, to the news broadcasts just before dinner. But any way about a month ago, something began to happen in our house. Some unseen presence tiptoed in and alter we had listened to the tragedy that is upon, the world it took us each by the hand and led us more quietly into our dining room. The iirst time we felt, it we had no words. Then one night one of us said with embarrassment: "Funnj T thing but just now I felt we were all going to bow our heads and say grace." Then someone else made a brave admission. "I have been giving thanks. Every time I see our table and us around it and food upon it. Not out loud. Just to myself. Let's do it together." So that night we did; Ave said grace in .silence. Later we learned words to say aloud; but when guests were at our table, we forgot it entirely. It seemed such an old-fash-ioned thing to 'do in this modern world. Any wny_ it was really our own business. But somehow it made the night when we. were alone for dinner mere warm and close and precious. A few nights, ago a neighbour invited us to dinner. / It was quite different from the dinners we used to have there. For one. thing, we all brought our children for there's no ° t one to leave them with now that the factories have called our maids. And there are gaps in almost every family; we carried letters from far awaj' places to read to one another. "When we sat down at the table, there was a moment's pause. I thought guiltily it must be my family's fault. But nobody alone was responsible; there was a still expectancy in, each of us. It was! awkward for we are not used to such awareness. We have not found words. "Guess w.e migSit as well say one of the men muttered. "Seems appropriate these days." We bowed our heads, and all of us prayed in our own childish and wise, grown up and simple.. Probably the littlest said t "I smell duck and potatoes. Dear God, 1 wish I could send my share to the children of Europe. Please take care of them. Amen." Another might have said i} "Thank you God, for this family and this town. Please take seeds from this happiness of ours and scatter them across the world."

The one who always sees things largely was not thinking about the food- at all. I'm sure he was thank-

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

ing God for something bigger. For vast table-lands of wheat orchards 5 J cradled in valleys, neatly combed miles of beans and carrots, and the tall troops of corn. I'm sure he was seeing not just us at that table but the whole country mericl'ul in bounty. I think this hasn't happened just to our family. Thousands, must be sharing these involuntary moments of gratitude. A 'Thank You' for what we have, and a promise about what we're going to do with it. (Condensed from "Good Housekeeping.") ■ Why Grace Before' Meals (Extracts from an article by Professor W. R. Forrester) It. is one of the weaknesses of our times that people are shy of attempting difficult spiritual tasks because of the risk of perversion or or because, of the fear of ridicule. We are in many tilings much too sensitive to the opinions of our neighbours. Will those who neglect the observance of Grace before meals conr sider the psychological importance, especially in a family where there are several children? The little ones arrive hot-loot and hungry and eager to "fall to." But appetite will not rule one's life. If appetite is allowed to rule in the dining room, it will insist on ruling everywhere. A disorderly family meal means a bad tempered home. . . . If children are allowed to arrive when the spirit moves tliem 9 and help themselves to food within their reach, disorder must prevail both in the soul and in th e home. But here the simple observance of grace assumes a crucial importance. All must gather and await, the blessing. Appetite inust_ acknowledge other and higher claims.

In youth ) as Aristotle says, the beginning is the most important thing. Those who when young learn restraint in eating will more easily learn all the other lessons* of discipline in dally life.

So many parents who work their lingers to the bone that their children may be well i'ed j well clad well schooled and in every way well equipped for the business, of life fight shy of the one thing needful and send out their children spiritually naked and ill-nourished into this inhospitable world, lacking the most elementary essentials of. a successful spiritual life.

Among the important things we should be especially careful to, bequeath as a spiritual heritage is thi.s simple habit of consecrating all food and all life to its maker. Our Father —give us this day our daily bread.