Family gatherings are a great way to bring loved ones together, share good food, and create lasting memories. While saying a prayer before a meal is a common tradition for many families, it doesn’t have to be a serious affair.
In fact, incorporating some humor into your dinner prayer can bring laughter and joy to the table. Here are some funny and short dinner prayers to try at your next family gathering.
The Importance of Laughter in Family Gatherings
Sharing a laugh with loved ones can be a bonding experience and create positive memories that last a lifetime. Adding humor to a dinner prayer can break the ice and set the tone for a fun and enjoyable meal.
Examples of Funny Dinner Prayers
- “Dear Lord, we thank you for this food, which we’re about to receive. We also thank you for not letting us be the ones to cook it.”
- “Bless the hands that prepared this meal, and forgive them for adding too much salt.”
- “Lord, we pray that this meal is so delicious, it makes up for all the terrible ones we’ve had in the past.”
- “We thank you for this food and the family and friends we get to share it with. We promise not to talk with our mouths full, at least for the first few bites.”
- “Dear God, we thank you for this food and for the ability to eat it without the kids asking for mac and cheese for the 500th time.”
Some more examples of funny dinner prayers to say for a family gathering:
- “Dear Lord, please bless this food and our family. May our conversations be lively, our jokes be funny, and our stomachs be strong enough to handle seconds. Amen.”
- “Lord, thank you for this delicious meal and for the company of our beloved family. Please forgive us for the gossip we’re about to indulge in, and the inevitable dad jokes that will follow. Amen.”
- “God, bless this food and the hands that prepared it. And while you’re at it, can you please make sure Aunt Sally doesn’t try to feed the dog under the table again? We love her, but she’s a sneaky one. Amen.”
- “Dear Lord, thank you for this meal and for bringing our family together. Please give us the strength to resist the temptation to check our phones during dinner and the wit to come up with better conversation topics than the weather. Amen.”
- “God, we ask for your blessing on this food and for your forgiveness for any inappropriate jokes that may slip out of Uncle Bob’s mouth. We love him, but he’s a wild card. Amen.”
Remember to keep it lighthearted and appropriate for all ages, while still giving thanks for the food and the company.
- “Thank you for this food, which we’re about to eat. May it nourish our bodies and make us all sweet. Amen!”
- “Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive. And please don’t let Aunt Mabel’s casserole go to waste. Amen!”
- “Lord, bless this food and bless the hands that prepared it. And if anyone wants seconds, they’d better hurry up before Uncle Joe gets to it. Amen!”
- “As we gather around this table, let us give thanks for the food before us, the family beside us, and the wisdom that comes from a well-timed fart joke. Amen!”
Examples of Funny Thanksgiving Dinner Blessings
- “Thank you, dear Lord, for this amazing meal. If this is what heaven is like, I’m ready to make a reservation.”
- “Bless the hands that made this food, and bless the stomachs that are about to receive it. And please forgive us if we go back for seconds (or thirds).”
- “Lord, we are grateful for this feast, but we can’t help but wonder: did the Pilgrims really have marshmallows on their sweet potatoes?”
- “We give thanks for this meal, for the love and warmth around this table, and for the fact that nobody has asked us to pass the kale salad yet.”
- “Thank you, Lord, for the delicious food, the wonderful company, and the fact that we don’t have to do this again for another year.”
- Remember to keep the tone light and humorous, while still expressing gratitude for the food and the company.
Tips for Delivering a Funny Dinner Prayer
- Keep it short and sweet.
- Avoid being offensive or inappropriate.
- Use humor that everyone can relate to.
- Practice delivering your prayer beforehand to ensure the timing is right.
Types of Funny Dinner Blessings: Create Your Own
Take inspiration from the following formats and deliver your own funny dinner blessing tonight.
The One-Liner Mealtime Prayer
A short and sweet prayer that gets a laugh out of everyone at the table. Examples:
- “Dear God, we thank you for this food, and we promise not to complain about it, even if it’s terrible. Amen.”
- “Lord, bless this food and our ability to digest it. Amen.”
- “Dear Lord, let’s taco ’bout how grateful we are for this meal. Amen.”
- “Thank you, God, for this food that we are about to receive, and for the fact that we don’t have to hunt it or gather it ourselves. Amen.”
The Rhyme Time Funny Dinner Blessing
A prayer that rhymes and adds a fun, playful element to the mealtime. Examples:
- “Thank you, Lord, for this food we’ll eat. We’re grateful for every tasty treat. Bless this meal and our company too, as we share this time with me and you. Amen.”
- “We thank thee, Lord, for this great spread, and ask that we don’t end up in bed. Keep us healthy and strong, and let the food fuel us all day long. Amen.”
- “We’re gathered ’round this table, Lord, to enjoy this tasty grub. Please bless our time together, and keep us from becoming chub. Amen.”
- “God is good, God is great, let’s thank Him for this food on our plate. And bless the cook, who made this meal, may they never burn the bread or forget the peel.”
- “God is good, God is great, let’s dig in before it’s too late. We’re all gathered here to eat and to be merry, so let’s raise a glass and cheers to this cherry.”
- “God is good, God is great, thank Him for this food on our plate. And for this family and all our kin, let’s eat up and enjoy this din.”
- “God is good, God is great, let’s not waste time, let’s not be late. Let’s eat this meal with gratitude and glee, and make sure to save some for me.”
- “God is good, God is great, let’s not forget to hydrate. We’ll eat this meal with all our might, and wash it down with a beverage tonight.”
The Dinner Gratitude List
A prayer that takes a humorous approach to expressing gratitude for the meal and the company. Examples:
- “Lord, thank you for this food, for the bounty of the earth, for the chefs who prepared it, and for the friends and family who will be eating it with us. We promise not to talk with our mouths full, but we can’t promise not to laugh until we cry. Amen.”
- “Lord, we thank you for this food and the hands that prepared it. And please bless the chef with a raise, because this meal is the bomb. Amen.”
- “Dear God, we’re thankful for this delicious meal and for the wonderful company around this table. And if it’s not too much to ask, could we get the recipe for this amazing lasagna? Amen.”
The Impromptu Dinner Poem
A prayer that is made up on the spot, using a lighthearted tone and playful language. Example:
- “Oh Lord, bless this food we’re about to receive. May it nourish our bodies and help us to achieve all the things we have planned for the day, whether it’s work or play. And as we sit here, gathered ’round this table, we give thanks for our loved ones, who make life so much more enjoyable. Amen.”
The Pop Culture Dinner Prayer
A prayer that references popular culture, such as movies, TV shows, or music, to add a fun, modern twist to the mealtime prayer. Example:
- “Dear Lord, thank you for this meal, which we’re about to enjoy. We’re grateful for all the delicious food and the fact that we don’t have to cook it ourselves. And as we sit here, breaking bread together, we can’t help but think of that iconic scene from Lady and the Tramp. So, let’s all raise our forks and do our best spaghetti impression. Amen.”
Final Thoughts
Adding humor to a short dinner prayer can create a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone at the table. Remember to keep it light and relatable and to practice beforehand to ensure it flows smoothly.
Prefer a blessing of gratitude and reflection? We have examples of non-religious grace before meals, too.
Whether you’re sharing a meal with your family, a surprise birthday, or attending a dinner party, incorporating a funny dinner prayer is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.
