An Evening Prayer Before Dinner

A quiet pause at the end of the day to give thanks for the food before you and the hands that made it possible. This evening prayer invites rest, reflection, and the softening that comes with slowing down. It’s a gentle way to transition from the pace of the day into a more peaceful evening. Let this be a moment of presence before your meal.

Transcript

Thank you for this food in front of me.

As the day winds down,

Let this meal mark the shift from doing to being,

From movement to stillness,

From effort to ease.

I'm grateful for the nourishment this food offers,

For the chance to slow down,

To be present with myself,

To be cared for in the simplest way.

Thank you for the hands that brought this food into being,

The growers,

The workers,

The transporters,

The makers.

So many invisible efforts carried it here.

Thank you for this body that receives it,

That digests and transforms,

That supports me day after day.

Let this meal be a gesture of care,

A quiet honoring of all that today held.

May it ground me,

May it restore me,

May it remind me that I deserve rest,

Nourishment,

And peace.

I receive this meal with presence,

With gratitude,

And I allow myself to be fed fully.