As a child, my mother always told me to bless my food before eating. I have tried to remember and apply this advice everyday. I never thought that saying grace would lead to a spiritual revival and an instantaneous bond between two people.
I was having a lunch meeting at work with a colleague I had never met before. We began the meeting with standard introductions. I stuck my fork into my salad and took a bite of it. As soon as I did, I heard a voice say, "remember to pray."
I apologized to my colleague and asked her to pause her statement while I silently bowed my head and said my grace. When I looked back up at her, she commented "I like you already." We both smiled and started talking again.
We jumped from one conversation to another. We laughed and interjected exclamations in our chat when we realized how much we had in common. We were at work, but the discussion was about God - how He answers prayers, why He remains silent at times, and the spiritual journey we have both been on in recent years.
I had only known this phenomenal woman for 30minutes, but we were both going deep. We were going so deep that our respective lunches sat untouched for some time. My colleague's comment "I was having a rough day and less than a hour ago I was in my office feeling very sad. Our conversation is just what I needed today. I now feel so light!" touched my heart.
She thanked me for sharing my story with her and brightening her day. I told her that it wasn't me that lifted her spirit. It was God! When I scheduled the lunch meeting weeks ago, I did not know she would need spiritual upliftment, but God knew. He knows everything and divinely connected us at the right time. I reminded her that everything God does is well done. We both left the lunch meeting smiling and praising God.
I have no doubt this colleague and I will continue to grow spiritually. I will never forget how saying grace turned a typical meal into bountiful blessings and a strong bond. So the next time you sit down to eat, remember to bless your food because it could brighten someone's day.