Thanksgiving is one of the few times a year when grace is said at almost every table. Grace does not have to be religious but an expression of gratitude.

Expressing gratitude before a meal doesn’t have to be just for holidays.  In fact, expressing gratitude is something that makes us feel better overall.  It is important for our mental health.

Grateful Table: Blessings, Prayers and Graces by Brenda Knight is a sweet little book full of inspirational “blessings, prayers, and graces for the daily meal”.

What would happen if you sat down to dinner with the likes of Alicia Keyes, Jonathan Safran Foer, David Lynch, Morgan Freeman, Sir Ben Kingsley, Alton Brown, Neil Gaiman, Deepak Chopra and David Foster Wallace? Fascinating conversation, without doubt, and one of the things that all these folks have in common is that they practice gratitude and have a lot to say about it. These thinkers and luminaries included in The Grateful Table make this a thoroughly modern book of blessings, both heartfelt and deeply profound.

Saying grace is one of our loveliest traditions and one that has stood the test of time for good reason – it simply feels wonderful. Whether holding hands and praying to the heavens above or waxing poetic about the bounty of food, these blessings turn any group of people into family, connected by the power of gratitude. Compiled by the editor of and collaborator on the runaway bestseller Attitudes of Gratitude, Brenda Knight has employed the practice of gratitude for years. The Grateful Table is not your grandmother’s book of graces. Filled with fresh voices and contemporary expressions, this book of blessings will make every occasion more meaningful.

This book is actually arranged according to the calendar. There is an expression of gratitude for every day of the year. For today November 27, the grace is:

Surprised by Joy
I admit to being, at times,
Suddenly, and without the slightest warning,
Exceedingly happy.
-Charles Simic

Expressing gratitude and thankfulness is key to an open heart. It is something I practice daily with yoga, but the tradition of giving such thanks before meals has fallen to the wayside in our culture.  Grateful Table: Blessings, Prayers and Graces is a beautiful reminder and an excellent lesson for our children.

Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.