I love sunrises. The golden color of the sun as it peaks above the horizon. Brilliant. It happens so subtly at first with the sky brightening. A patient expectation. You can miss the first glimpse in a blink. But to catch a sunrise to me is always breathtaking. Radiant.
One of my favorite sunrises is on Easter morning. I love to go, if possible, to a sunrise service. It makes me feel bursting joy. As I think of it, every morning has this potential if we can embrace it.
Every morning we might not feel so hopeful of a new day, but it is a fresh start with new merices. I remember reading a book (''Having Our Say; The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years,'' an oral history told to Amy Hill Hearth) about two sisters. In their later years one sister named Sadie would wake up every morning at 6:30, smile and say, ''Thank you, Lord, for another day.'' Then she would wake up her sister Bessie, a late sleeper, who would open her eyes and say, ''Oh Lord, another day?'' I tend to be more like Sadie, and I always hope to be.
The crunch as I walk down the road.
The swirl in the breeze.
The fluttering and floating down from the trees.
The warmth of the colors!!!
The rattling of the dry leaves as the wind whips through the trees.
The big piles of raked leaves to run and jump in.
Every night when I was a little girl I was hugged, kissed, and sent to bed with a blessing. A blessing from my mom, my dad, and even my grandparents if they were visiting. It was short and simple and the same most nights. And it ended my days with peace and a reminder that Jesus loved me and I could rest in Him. I am thankful to my parents for this gift of a blessing.
And so I have continued what my parents started by blessing my children each night. No matter what.
Here are a couple of blessings from the scripture ...
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
May the Lord watch over you.
May He be a shade at your right hand
so that the sun will not harm you by day
or the moon by night.
May the Lord keep you from all harm.
May he watch over your coming and going,
both now and forever.
Psalm 121:5-8
To this end I bless you in the name of the Lord:
That the Lord may make you worthy of His calling
fulfilling every good resolve and work of faith,
by His power.
And may the name of our Lord Jesus be glorified in you
and you in Him,
according to the grace of our God
and our Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Jesus bless you and give you peace!
Does your family share blessings with each other?
