Not like a Mule...

Be ye not like the horse, or the mule...Ps 32:9

A certain man, prominent in society, asked a church dignitary whether it was according to the rules of etiquette to "say grace" at a banquet table.  The preacher replied, "I do not know much about etiquette, but I remember seeing on the wall of a farmer's home a picture showing mules and oxen at a crib.  They were devouring the fodder and scattering some of it beneath their feet, and over the picture was this inscription:

"Who, without prayer, sits down to eat,

And, without thanks, then leaves the table,

Trample, the gift of God with feet,

And is like mule and ox in stable."

My wife Margaret tells about an experience in her childhood that made a deep impression on her.  One day when was at a friend's home for dinner and everyone had assembled around the table, someone suggested they should "give thanks." Evidently it wasn't their custom. After a moment of rather awkward silence, the mother of the house blurted out, "We don't have to give thanks. After all, Daddy worked awfully hard to provide this food!"  What a tragedy that people who should know better fail to recognise that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow or turning." (Jas. 1:7)

On the other hand, just going through the motions of "saying grace" at the table can be almost as bad as not praying at all.  How easy it is to become mechanical, even in our religious exercises, and to pray just because it si customary or seems to be "the right thing to do."  Whenever we bow our heads together, may our expression of thanksgiving always well up from the depths of a grateful heart.  Let's not be "like the mule."

Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices

Who wonderous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices:

Who, from our mother's arms, hath blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.   Martin Rinkhart

DeHann., R.W & Bosch., H.G. (1971). Our Daily Bread Favourites. 336 Devotional Meditations .Daybreak Books.

                                                                   Zondervan Publishing house. Grand Rapids. Michigan. (January 15.)