Praying before a meal when you are the guest....?

I agree with your husband......Prayer and Grace is very important and should not be compromised, as far as "have you had guest that were offended"? I really don't know, I don't ask I just do.

Look at it this way: If you have children and you set rules for them to behave inside your house and then your nephews and/or nieces come over and they are a rowdy bunch, disrespectful even to their parents, yelling, running getting into things......

Are you just going to (COMPROMISE) your rules for them but punish your child when they start to do the same thing? NO!

House Rules are for everyone, you don't ask, you just do or correct (which ever the case maybe)...

Yes, I did have that happen (with my brother) he did not like it much that I corrected his children in my house and I simply said "you know I have rules for my kids and for my house, I love your kids but I will not let them run wild in my house".

Same goes for saying grace (Grace is different than saying prayer, praying can wait till they are gone, grace should go on as usual.

Now If I invite someone over I do ask if there is any foods they don't eat for health or religious reasons. I will NOT serve or eat anything that they do not eat for religious reasons....if they just don't like it or it is for health reasons, if I want it I will eat it while I serve them something else.

If saying grace is important to your spiritual life then of course you say it and you don't apologize or ask anyone's permission to express your faith with your own home. I would simply say in advance of the meal so no one gets caught with their fork already in their mouth, "We say grace before we eat and if you are comfortable doing so I hope you will join us in prayer." Anyone with any kind of manners at all will simply remain silent if they do not choose to participate. Who ever the dolt was who accused you of forcing your religion down their throat, along with the meal I suppose, is simply a narcissistic, bad mannered boor and if it were my house they would not be invited again. The other person would have been invited to stay in the living room until we were finished with our prayer and then invited to join us at the table. You act as if you are apologizing to people for having standards for your spiritual life. And, you are putting them before God and I don't know of any sect or denomination that teaches that approach to religion. If you are going to talk the talk you need to also walk the walk.

Lol. I would feel awkward If I was at someone's house and they were saying grace. If I was your family, I wouldn't have people over of you're going to get offended by what they say... When you ask "do you mind" it's a yes or no question. If they said they'll feel awkward, don't ask them again if you could have a moment of silence... Just pray when they leave or before they come.

carry on with the prayer , most people accept it , many are pleased , the fruits will be in whether they invite you and your wife to their home for a meal .

Continue what your doing.

I'd be offended if somebody expected me to do that in their home.

"Our home, our rules?" Fine. I don't need to be in your home, and I don't need you as a friend.

You effectively are forcing your religious beliefs down people's throats.

If you need to be so nasty and controlling, as to force them to conform to your religion, they probably don't need to be your friend.

How hospitable of your spouse.

I do not mind waiting for grace. If you are just praying, not making them pray that is not forcing your religion on them so idk why it bothers those two people.

Being an atheist, no I do not pray at all or when guests where over so idk if they would be offended.

I think that what you do is perfectly acceptable.