Great Prayer

Remember this prayer?

God is Great.

God is Good.

Thank you for our food.

AMEN.

Another version (which you may have learned):

God is Grace.

God is Good.

Thank you for our food.

AMEN.

I used to think this prayer was too simple and it had very little meaning, but then I heard one of my grandsons say it and it took on new meaning.  There’s something incredible about seeing a 3 year old fold his hands and partially close his eyes (peeking a little to watch his dad to make sure dad is praying, too) and saying with all sincerity, “God is Great”.  While he said it I thought of all the times when God has been faithful and has taken very bad times and made something good of it.  I also remembered God’s continuous efforts to bring beauty into our lives.

Then the toddler said, “God is GOOD”.  I mean REALLY good.  Goodness we don’t even know or understand.  God is totally and completely good, pure, and perfect in goodness for us.  Hearing a 3 year old say, “God is Good” comes as close as anything on earth as pure.

Then when he says, “thank you for our food”…that’s when he peeks at the food on his plate and he’s probably a little hungry and wants to take a bite because he really likes macaroni.  He doesn’t know that kids all over the world don’t have enough food like he has food.  He just knows he’s a little hungry.  I’m glad he has macaroni and is thankful for it.  We should be thankful for it.

The last part was my favorite because when he got to the end he opened his eyes, looked at his dad and they both loudly said, “AMEN”.  It wasn’t just any old Amen – it was AAAAA-MEN! I chuckled a little to myself because I knew it had become a family tradition for them to end the prayer with great gusto. 

What a great ending!

What a great prayer!

Great theology. 

Teaching a 3 year old that our God is great, good, and that he should be grateful for his food is a God moment.

The only thing that’s better?

God hearing the toddler speak the words to Him.