Gratitude - Open the door to Blessing

After eating bread we recite a prayer called Birkas Hamazon. One of the ways we merit all the good that comes from this prayer is by saying it with true feelings of gratitude. When a person feels genuine appreciation, the power of his words becomes infinitely greater.

In the first section of Birkas HaMazon, we acknowledge that G-d is the One who gives us our livelihood. We need to understand what that truly means. 

The Gemara speaks about a Hallel called Hallel HaGadol, the Great Praise. The chapter of Tehillim (Psalms) in which we say "Ki l'olam chasdo" His kindness is forever, twenty-six times is referred to as Hallel Hagadol, the great praise. Rabbi Yochanan from the Gemara teaches us that it is because this chapter mentions that G-d gives food to all of His creations.

G-d, who resides in the highest heights, personally comes and takes care of every single one of His creations, ensuring that they always have what to eat. He does not delegate this responsibility to a messenger. He does it Himself, because He loves us.

The question is asked: this prayer with twenty six verses about how G-ds kindness is forever mentions so many miracles—creating heaven and earth, the sun and the moon, taking us out of Egypt, splitting the sea, leading us through the desert, defeating the giants Sichon and Og. How can it be that of all these miracles, G-d giving us food is considered the greatest?

The book Birkas HaMazon BeKavanah explains that all the other miracles were one-time events. But the miracle of feeding every person and every animal is something G-d performs every second of every day, from the beginning of time until today and onwards. G-d is "concerned" that all of His billions and trillions of creations have what they need to live. It is a constant miracle that never stops.

Let us strive to emulate G-d and ensure that food reaches hungry children in Israel who need it most. Whether it be monthly or even a one time giving of bread. You are  creating great merits as you go in the ways of our Creator who endlessly showers us with His blessing.