Gracious Creator,
We give thanks not only for the food that sustains our bodies but for the beauty that nourishes our souls. We say grace before the play and the opera. For the stories that reveal the truth and stir our hearts. We say grace before the concert and the pantomime. For the melodies that lift our spirits and bring us joy.
We say grace before we open a book, for the words that teach and transform us. We say grace before sketching, painting, swimming, and fencing, for the creativity and movement that mirror Your boundless imagination.
We say grace before walking, playing, and dancing, for the gift of strength, rhythm, the delight of simply being alive. And we say grace before dipping the pen in ink, for the privilege of expressing our thoughts, dreams, and prayers.
Lord, may every act, however small, be a reflection of our gratitude for the gift of life.
— From Andy Doyle, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, based on words by G.K. Chesterton