How Saying Grace Adds Meaning to Meals

Brett Levanto and his family had never said grace before meals, not regularly, anyway. But what began as a temporary challenge transformed them in small ways. This year, his daughter decided to start saying grace before dinner during Lent, and he and his wife were encouraging, thinking it would be a nice thing to try out. He was surprised at the effects it had. How big a turkey should I buy? That and other Thanksgiving questions answered. "It's just been lovely. I really dig the way it creates a structure," says Levanto, 38, who lives in Alexandria, Va., and works for a small lobbying and law firm. "Everyone has to get to the table and be together and not be distracted. We focus on where we are."