The Old Testament holds a blessing that I love: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:26). I’ve prayed this blessing over my children numerous times.
Blessing is an act of hope.
This week, through Kate Bowler’s The Everything Happens Book Club, I learned of a book by Jan Richardson that offers blessings for difficult times. Richardson is a minister, an author, a poet, and an artist. She wrote The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief after the death of her husband. At this link (scroll down to February Book Club) you can listen to a video of Bowler reading one of Richardson’s blessings (so beautiful!) and download some questions for reflection. Listen and you’ll find that such blessing is not limited to those who are suffering the grief of death but is there for those bearing all kinds of small as well as large griefs as well.
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[Photo: taken of a winter scene on a nearby lake]