Food & Gratitude

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving holiday. The Thanksgiving holiday was originally a celebration of a successful harvest – a time to give thanks for the gifts from the earth which sustained the original immigrants to what is now called Plymouth in the United States of America.

The Native Americans had taught the settlers (Pilgrims) how to grow corn and how to survive off the land. Both Pilgrims and Native Americans, allies, celebrated the success together with a feast that lasted three days. Unfortunately this is one of the few examples of the new settlers living together in harmony with the natives.

There is a long tradition of giving thanks for our food. I remember growing up, we would have dinner together at the dinner table almost every evening. We began the meal with a prayer of gratitude – “saying grace” we called it.

The tradition of beginning a meal – every meal – with a gratitude prayer has been lost, and along with it the wisdom and many benefits of the practice.

One of the best things we can do for our digestion is to be present with our food and put our bodies, and nervous systems, into a state of gratitude.

In a world heavily laden with stress factors and hustle-bustle, we tend to remain on the edge of stress, if not fully immersed in it. This activates the Sympathetic Nervous System, which puts us in the Fight or Flight mode, on alert for survival. When the body is concerned with immediate danger or threat to its survival, it diverts energy to the systems that it needs to defend itself or flee the danger. It is not concerned with eating or digesting food at this time. This is the body’s innate wisdom.

When we feed ourselves while the digestive system is shut down by the nervous system, our digestive functioning is far from optimal. Given that a large percentage of the population lives in a perpetual state of stress, it’s no wonder the instance of digestive dysfunction is so high.

But what if we brought back a sincere practice of gratitude with every meal – not just the Thanksgiving holiday, but with every morsel of food that we take into our bodies for sustenance?

What does Gratitude do for the nervous system? What would happen if you allowed yourself to be present in the moment with the food that is in front of you, and you allowed yourself to feel the gratitude for the gift of sustenance that sustains your life force and gives you health? Imagine how your relationship between your food, body, heart and spirit would change!

One of the best things we can do for our digestion is to be present with our food and put our bodies, and nervous systems, into a state of gratitude. Share on X

This is my invitation to you. Beginning now, through the Thanksgiving weekend, and beyond – with every morsel of food and drink you take into your body, give a sincere acknowledgement of the gifts and feel the gratitude. Notice how this changes your relationship to your food, your food choices, your eating habits, your relationship to your body, your relationship to the earth and to your spirit.

Here is a prayer I use to give Thanks and to remind myself to consciously RECEIVE the gifts, not check out and shove food into my system without thinking about it. I’m not saying I’m perfect – I have to remind myself, and I’m thankful for this holiday that renews my commitment.

Use this prayer if you find it helpful. You can adjust the words to fit with your belief systems, of course.

The Food & Gratitude Prayer:

I give thanks for this food that You have given from Your earth.
Please bless this food and make it holy to nourish
my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit.

I receive this food as a gift of
nourishment for my body,
love for my heart,
and reverence for my spirit.

Amen.

Click here to download the Gratitude Offering Prayer.

I’d love to know how this works for you. Feel free to send me an email, post a comment on the blog, or pop a message in the Community for Conscious Living Facebook group.

With love and gratitude,
Live & Love Joyfully!

Debra Mastura Graugnard

You’re invited to join us live on Sundays for the Community for Conscious Living Prayer & Healing Circle. This coming Sunday we’ll be taking a deep dive into Gratitude as a catalyst for transformation and a support for anchoring in lasting change.

Mark your calendar to join us every Sunday at 10am US ET / 7am US PT.

If you’d like support with this process or anything it invokes for you, you’re welcome to schedule a free 30-minute breakthrough session. I’d be honored to support you.

Thank you for doing your part to make the world a brighter place.

Is there a topic you would like to hear about? You’re invited to join our discussions in the Facebook community. You’re welcome to introduce yourself and let us know what you’d like to receive. Click here to access the group.