I am so lucky to have the bounty of food available to me that I do.  I think about that every day and I don’t ever want to take that for granted.  I appreciate all the wonderful foods I can use to make up my meals, and in each of them I see and appreciate everything that it took to bring that food to my table.

The earth and the sun, the wind and the rain that nourished the plants.  The people who planted and tended and harvested them.  The animals whose lives were given in order to sustain mine, and all the foods from animals that are part of what feeds me.  The people who transported, packaged, distributed, and sold the food that I now eat.  And all that has gone into preparing and setting before me the meal that I eat.  

There was so much that went into the food that sits before me at my table.

Before eating a meal, the Japanese take a moment to bow their heads in respect for all of this as they say “itadakimasu”.  Itadakimasu means “I humbly receive”, and part of that is acknowledging and expressing gratitude for all that was a part of providing the food they eat.  It is a wonderful tradition and one with a lot of meaning.

I say Itadakimasu before I eat each meal now too.  I never want to forget that important connection to all that went into providing me the food that sustains my life.  I never want to forget how blessed and fortunate I am.

I hope you enjoy a good meal today.