One Slice, a Hundred Hands

Think about one slice of bread on your plate this morning. Before it got there, someone planted the wheat, someone harvested it, someone milled it, baked it, packed it, drove it across the country and stocked the shelf. One slice passed through a hundred hands.

When Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” he wasn’t only talking about miracles like manna. He was teaching us to see God’s hand in all those ordinary hands. The rain on the field, the health of the farmer, the job that paid for the groceries.

Israel was told what to do with that kind of provision: “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.” Being full is exactly when it is easiest to forget.

Start today. Before your next meal, trace one thing on the table back as far as you can, and thank God for every hand along the way.