Question of the Day, Friday, November 28

Winchester

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Good morning!
And Happy Black Friday!

No shopping today, alas. Rick will do a bit of shopping (for electrical items, mostly; he's meeting the electrician at Lowes at 8:00). Afterward, the electrician is coming here to start the wiring, and Rick will head to PetSmart to take advantage of the cat bargains. And me? I still need to do a few things to prepare for our T-day dinner today. I'm just glad that we're able to get together today and that the weather is cooperating. And after it's all over tonight, Rick and I may do some shopping, if we're not too pooped.

OK, to my question. When we have a larger gathering here, somebody always says a blessing before we eat. Usually it's Rick, but when our son is here, he will say it. It's usually something fairly short, just to thank the lord for dinner and to bless the hands that have prepared the food, that kind of thing. When it's just Rick and me, we don't say anything, but we do when there are others here with us.  I'm not a religious person and it doesn't matter to me. It does matter to his mother and our son's family will not eat without saying a grace.

Do you say a blessing or say grace or anything before you eat? I don't want to turn this into a big religious debate or anything like that. I'm just curious. 
 

pinkdagger

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Neither I nor anyone in my family has ever said blessings. My boyfriend's parents are Christian, and I always forget that they do stuff like that, so often when we're at a family dinner, I'll take a bite of something (having seen someone else sneak a bite) before I realize everyone has their hands in prayer on the table.
 

Norachan

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We never said grace while I was growing up, but now that I live in a Buddhist country we say "Itadakimasu" (I humbly receive) before we eat. I only say that if there are Japanese people around though, if I'm on my own I don't bother. 
 

Draco

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We don't say blessings- not since my grandmother passed away 15 years ago. Now we toast the host and the host toasts back
 

swampwitch

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I've never said blessings before meals, but when I was growing up my best friend's family always said grace and I thought it was a nice thing to do. On Thanksgiving, we say what we are thankful for… and at Christmas dinner we say a few words and toast my husband's father, who passed away on Christmas Day 15 years ago.
 
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larussa

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Although I was brought up as a Catholic, I do not say grace or pray before eating.  I do however pray every  night before sleeping.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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At every meal, at home, or the restaurant, we hold hands and my husband thanks God for blessings and the food. I grew up that way, but he didn't.
 

fhicat

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On my own, no, but if I'm with someone who does, I'll participate. At home, though, we'll "invite" our parents to take the first bite first before my sister and I eat, but that's more a culture thing.
 

catsallaround

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Never did.  My stepmoms family is a lot more religious and any time we went to her one sisters I always felt so out of place as they said long ones.
 

alyssam

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No. Only at big family dinners (Thanksgiving, Christmas) my Grandpa would.

As far as Black Friday sales, I went to Thursday night sales at Walmart. Got myself a 10" tablet with keyboard folio case for $79.00! I did a bit of online browsing this afternoon too.
 

angels mommy

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I grew up w/ a very Christian mom, so yes. At every meal we always do, & even when we eat out, she will say it. .  As for me, even though I live alone, I still do. 
 

chromium blues

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No. When I was growing up, my mother had a friend who was very Christian and used to pray before each meal whether or not anyone else did. The first time I saw her do that I thought she'd lost her marbles! No one had explained that to me before.
 

zoneout

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Had a horrible time at Black Friday about 10 years ago so I just don't get involved any more. It is really tragic the way our holidays have been commercialized.

In light of watching tv on thanksgiving and going shopping for sales I think saying grace is definitely a welcomed custom.
 

kathyfromcanada

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We don't usually say anything if were just by ourselves. Me and Bruce. They always say grace at my husbands side though as they are devout Catholics.

Bruce just goes along for the ride so to speak. We never go to church. Not religious either. I'm not catholic but do consider my self spiritual. When I'm at my family for Thanksgiving, we just give thanks for the good things in our lives and then give a toast to good health or a bright future.
 
 
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