I was raised to say grace before meals. Usually when I was called on to do so, my reliable and to-the-point prayer was "God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Amen."
When it was my dad's turn to pray, his recitation was so fast that I never really knew the words to the prayer until I was old enough to look them up. It always came out as, "Bless us O Lord, and these thy gisswhissweroboutaceveshuthbounty, through Christourlordamen."
I got the sense that God might be a bit miffed if you were out somewhere, maybe at McDonald's with friends, and no grace was said -- not even your own little silent secret prayer (your default to keep folks from perceiving you as a goody-goody)...
Nowadays, I know that no scolding Deity in the Sky keeps track of such things and that Spirit savors authentic gratitude, however and whenever it is expressed. But I offer this prayer for all who might experience that sting of contrition when you eat and later realize you forgot to say spoken or silent grace.
Bless me O Lord
for what I just ate.
You know how I always
start praying too late.
I'm ever grateful
for the food I've received.
When my prayer is delayed,
please don't be peeved.
Amen.
