This morning, to open our weekly Bible study, I asked one of our residents to lead us in a prayer.

Accidentally, she began: “Bless us, O Lord…”

Mistakes, happen; I know all to well!

Rather than correct and stop her, I just “went with it,” and we all finished the prayer together.

I figured that a prayer asking for blessing and recalling God’s gifts was appropriate any time. In fact, God’s word, the Scripture, which we were about to read and discuss, is a very great gift, indeed.

As we began Bible study, this prayer truly was fitting; we were about to receive the gift of God’s word, given to us from His bounty and goodness, “through Christ, our Lord.”

What a beautiful prayer it was to begin our Bible study.

When we had finished, as the residents were leaving, lunchtime was just around the corner.

So, I prayed this traditional meal prayer a second time with one or two who were remaining, this time gratefully asking a blessing upon our physical food which we were “about to receive.”