Give us this day our daily bread

I wonder where you are getting your daily bread from. A specialist artisan baker, the local supermarket or your own personal bread maker? Bread is one of the staple foods found in many regions of the world, people in other areas worldwide have rice as part of their main diet.

Sources grounded from plants can be used in the baking of unleavened flatbread, whilst grain can be milled to provide leavened bread. Bread consists mainly of flour, salt, yeast, water, butter and other ingredients added where required and be gluten free.

The dough takes time to rise and to prove before being baked, cooled and then enjoyed. Bread is a source of carbohydrates, nutrients, magnesium, iron, B vitamins and dietary fibre.

Buttered bread, warm, cold or toasted can be delightful. It is added to other food sources such as sausages and meatballs. We slice the bread and add other tasty ingredients to make a sandwich. It is used as a pizza base or as a bread pudding, the list is endless.

Bread also has a religious and cultural significance. For the Christian, bread is broken and shared in the Eucharist (Communion) as a reminder of the broken body of Christ, alongside the wine which represents the shed blood of Christ.

In non-religious communities bread will be used in various ways to depict the basic necessities of life.

Other references to bread include: Bread winner, someone who provides an income. A political leader who promises peace and prosperity, that includes bread to eat. A breadbasket, is a region where wheat is grown to provide flour for bread to be made. Bread and salt have been used as a sign of welcome and hospitality in certain cultures.

Meals within a family and amongst friends represent friendship and hospitality. In saying the Lord’s Prayer we ask for our daily bread.

At this point I want to share a prose I have complied to represent some of the above sentiments.

A seed is sown by being placed in the ground,

The rain gently falls and the sun brings it warmth.

Insects and small animals pass its way, as it grows to maturity,

Then the farmer with his combined harvester reaps a full reward.

A seed is ground and prepared by the Miller,

Flour is produced in a miraculous way,

To be leavened or unleavened.

All bagged to the brim ready to use.

The bread is baked in its own special way.

With flour, salt, yeast and water.

White, wholemeal, granary and sough dour.

All to please and give us a meal.

So we give thanks for our daily bread,

Strength provided for our daily tasks.

With family, friends and strangers,

What a wonderful delight.

So may we appreciate one of the basic necessities of life which is bread?

                                                 ‘Grace’ (1918) by Eric Enstrom

May we enjoy breaking and sharing bread, with those we love and those who have little during the various seasons of life?          ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’

Graham

For further reading hit the links below for the second edition of my book Blog 51 (October 2020) in black and white or colour