Bless You!

When is the last time someone blessed you?  I'm not talking the sneeze-in-an-elevator type blessing, I mean the one where someone took the time, along with the eye contact, to invoke heartfelt words of goodwill that you carried with you for the rest of your day?  It doesn't happen often enough in my opinion.  I don't think a true blessing must be rooted in religion, but it definitely is more powerful if it springs from spirituality.  There is SUCH a difference between religion and spirituality - but that topic deserves its own blog post. ;)  

I love the Irish and their way with words.  Simple phrases that carry such an impact, such as "May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends", or "May your feet always take you wherever your heart is."  My favorite all time Irish blessing is this, "May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.  May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields.  And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand."  I think this one is particularly poignant for me as a rancher's daughter.  Our family has been through many years where a soft rainfall is what makes the difference between a year of plenty, and a year of want.  And as far as someone wishing upon me that I would be held in the palm of God??  Count me in on that one please!!

Blessings take time and thought.  You don't find someone cavalierly throwing off some syllables and moving on to the next topic.  Blessings are a moment in and of themselves.  I recall many toasts made to dear friends who were either present, or newly departed.  There was always a moment of silence, a pause, an honoring.  Words were spoken, wishing for that person to either have another fruitful year of life, or if they had left us already, then we would wish them Godspeed to when we would see them again. Respectful, reverential, reflective.

This past week has been a tough one for me.  I recently moved to a new state, started a new job, moved into a new abode - I tallied up all the changes in my life and about the only thing that is the same is my car.  But even she is eyeing the upcoming heavy winters here with foreboding and is sending telepathic messages to be replaced with a sturdy truck.  I felt like I was settling into a nice new routine here, and then I sustained two stress fractures in my foot.  This has brought some new characters into my life called Bruce the Brace, and Ruby the Knee Scooter.  I have earned the moniker at work as Scooter Girl.  

These changes in mobility along with the life changes have been a bit hard to swallow at times.  I've had to do that dig-deep type of thing....thank goodness that tool is finely honed in my life.  It's a little too soon in this new way of getting around to see the good in my circumstances (insert wry smile here), but I know God has a plan.  Through all of this, I have had the cheerful support of my parents and brother, propelling me forward and keeping me occupied.  I thankfully have a career where I can still earn a living and don't need to rely on being 100% physically.  I've had several friends, and my daughter who knows me so well, tell me that perhaps this is a forced opportunity to just slow down for a bit.  Well MY plans were to explore my new surroundings and come inside from camping just long enough to shower, work, and restock.  So much for those plans eh?

Instead, I find myself calculating how many trips I will need to make up and down my stairs to accomplish my day's goals, and how can I get through my day and back to that ice pack with the most efficiency.  But these circumstances are but a blip on the screen of my life.  I can deal.

Today during my worship, which has been going on longer than usual these days....yes...I can see the light bulb turning on in your mind too... ;), God led me to read about David.  Man can I ever relate to him.  He was a warrior, a can-do, an achiever.  David forged on ahead through life and into hostile camps and circles with the fortitude of someone who had God at his back, and he did have God at his back.  I read today where God blessed him, abundantly.  David wanted so badly to build God a temple to inhabit, but God said, "No, that's not what I have in mind for you.  I'm going to raise up one of your sons for that task and I will give you a legacy of leadership and will bless his kingdom as I have blessed yours." (Okay - artistic paraphrasing has just occurred).   David goes on to secure his kingdom by routing out the infidels, and gaining territory.  At the end of his reign, when he passes the reins during the rains to his son (!!) Solomon, he says these words to him that just really struck me today. 

He says, "And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.  Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.  For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him." I Chronicles 28:9  Wow - now those are words of wisdom.  What a blessing to know that if we seek Him, we will find Him.  It says that several times in the Bible by the way.  Another favorite passage of mine is Jeremiah 29:11-14.

I have been missing my kids acutely.  Being forced to slow down and grind the coffee during this time is allowing me time to think, rather than just do.  I don't ever want to be so much of a do-er, that I don't have time to be a thinker.  So I've been thinking, and feeling, and processing.  It's kind of been intense.  I realized today that one of the ways I can connect with them, is by giving them a daily blessing.  Can you imagine the ceremony with which David said those words to his precious son Solomon?  They had a MOMENT.  So much so that it was written in the Bible.  I want to have MOMENTS with my kids.  Maybe not always face to face, we are all at a place in our lives where being physically together every day just isn't possible, but we can still create moments with what is available to us.  I want to bless them.  

Many things are accomplished with me giving them a daily blessing.  Number one, it will keep me close to the Source of those blessings, worshiping him with open palms so I can give him my worries and concerns and receive HIS blessings.  Number two, I want my kids to see HIM as the source of my joy.  Joy in today's world just doesn't happen by accident.  God is the one who has taken me through some setbacks and lifted me up again to mountain tops.  It's only by walking prayerfully through those valleys that I've been able to recognize the absolute splendor of the mountain tops.  I want my kids to build and flex those muscles of resilience and reliance that only belief in a higher power can provide.  Number three, I will be in daily contact with my children even if it's over text.  I want them to know how much they matter to me and how often my thoughts turn to them.  I was looking through my phone last night and I have so many videos of them - dancing through snow, killing it on the basketball court, wrestling with each other, videos taken by the side of my chair so I could catch their hilarious interactions unaware. I. Love. My. Kids.  And I want them to know it every day with a blessing that only close communion with our creator can give me.

In leaving you today, I want to say this blessing over you.  We used to sing it at the end of every concert when I was in a singing group during high school.  I know as many of you read it, the music will run through your mind.  You're welcome fellow Sylvan members. ;) 

Thank you all for being with me on this journey.  As previously mentioned, the only constant in my life right now is change.  But it's good stuff and I'm learning so very much.  I'm so grateful for your presence in my life and that even though circumstances may evolve, friendships remain.  Thank you for that.  I appreciate you.

Make it a great day!!



photo credit: faithful-in-christ.tumblr.com & myjewishlearning.com