"real" prayer

“How easily we slide into thinking of our prayers as the “real” prayer. What is the “real” prayer, the grace we say at the table, or the meal that follows it? And if we pray at all times, as we should, our eating and drinking will be real prayer. Gratefulness will turn the whole meal into prayer, for after we pray our prayers, we will pray our soup, salad, and dessert.”

-David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer

Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer

by David Steindl-Rast

"real" prayer

“How easily we slide into thinking of our prayers as the “real” prayer. What is the “real” prayer, the grace we say at the table, or the meal that follows it? And if we pray at all times, as we should, our eating and drinking will be real prayer. Gratefulness will turn the whole meal into prayer, for after we pray our prayers, we will pray our soup, salad, and dessert.”

-David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer

Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer

by David Steindl-Rast

Willing to thank God

“In the same way that I am willing to thank my husband for a gift even before I have opened it—because I trust his love of me—I am willing to thank God for my life even before I know how it turns out. This is brave talk, I know, while I can still pay the bills, walk without assistance, and talk someone into going to the movies with me. My hope is that if I can practice saying thank you now, when I still approve of most of what is happening to me, then perhaps that practice will have become habit by the time I do not like much of anything that is happening to me. The plan is to replace approval with gratitude.”

-Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World

Link to order book on Amazon

Willing to thank God

“In the same way that I am willing to thank my husband for a gift even before I have opened it—because I trust his love of me—I am willing to thank God for my life even before I know how it turns out. This is brave talk, I know, while I can still pay the bills, walk without assistance, and talk someone into going to the movies with me. My hope is that if I can practice saying thank you now, when I still approve of most of what is happening to me, then perhaps that practice will have become habit by the time I do not like much of anything that is happening to me. The plan is to replace approval with gratitude.”

-Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World

Link to order book on Amazon