Thanksgiving Dinner Prayers

Why do we pray and what are prayers for. I pray (I call it talking to Him) almost all the time. I may sound light and flaky but I really believe that our prayers are answered, maybe not in the way we want them answered, but they are answered. I'm not a believer in organized religion, although I am married to a catholic and we were married in a catholic church.

My mother-in-law is dyed in the wool catholic. She is 90 years old---is the only one alive in her family of 11 brothers and 1 sister who died in infancy. My mother-in-law was the second to the youngest and has definitely been the healthiest of anyone in her family. One brother was killed when he was a teenager and all the other brothers died of health problems at fairly young middle age. I'm not sure how she feels about her son-in-law and daughter-in-law both being non-catholic; she keeps quiet about that.

However, my being non-catholic has no bearing on why I pray or why I silently talk to God. I always tell people that I talk to God so much that I'm sure I've been put on hold a few times. Saint Peter: "Your majesty? It's Kris again. She has another request!" God: "Oh, no. I don't have time for her now. Play some of that elevator music for her, maybe she'll hang up." Little does He know, I never hang up.

Mealtime Prayers:

For every cup and plateful,
God, make us truly grateful.
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Give us, Lord, a bit of sun,
A big of work and a bit of fun;
Give us all in the struggle and sputter
Our daily bread and bit of butter;
Give us health, our keep to make
And a bit to spare for others' sake. Amen
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For food to eat,
those who prepare it,
for health to enjoy it,
friends to share it;
we thank you, good Lord. Amen
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With hearts of gratitude
we come together,
to share this food. Amen
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Back of the loaf is the snowy flour,
and back of the flour is the mill,
and back of the mill is the wheat and the shower,
and the sun and the Father's will. Amen
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Reasons for Thanksgiving---
To have enough food, and a place to dwell,
To have work to do and do it well.
To find comfort when things go wrong,
In a bit of prayer or a snatch of song.
To know the pleasure a kind act brings,
To see the beauty of simple things.
To know good books and share their worth,
To plant bright flowers in rich brown earth.
To have true friends, this is living,
And reason enough for Thanksgiving.
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A Lighthearted Prayer:
Hey diddle diddle
I've a bulge in my middle
I'm hoping to whittle it soon.
But eating's such fun!
I won't get it done
Til my dish runs away with my spoon.
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A neighbor asked a small boy if his family
said prayers before meals.
"No," he replied, "We don't have to.
My mother is a good cook."