A Blessing on Your Home

I have always loved special blessings--their beautiful words infuse a sense of the divine into the ordinary moments of our lives.  Wedding ceremonies, christenings, a toast at a special event, even the launch of a new ship, includes a blessing.  And when it comes to blessings, I don't think anyone has more beautiful blessings than the Irish. Unfortunately I can't lay any clear claim to Irish ancestry.  Family word of mouth is that some of my Scottish relatives were awarded land in Ireland in support of one of the English kings, but that is a dubious connection and probably not recognized as anything other than usurpery by the Irish.  I know I'm Celtic...at least a portion of my heritage is Welsh and Scottish, but whether or not I'm truly Irish doesn't really matter this week.  This week I think we all share a wee bit of the green.

When my two oldest boys were in elementary school they sang in an Honors Choir, and the spring concert always ended with a beautiful rendition of May the Road Rise Up to Meet You.  The children would sign the words in American Sign Language as they sang, and it was always a touching performance that left tears in my eyes.  I love this simple blessing and I thought you might enjoy hearing the amazing English boy choir, Libera, perform this song.  It is truly other-worldly and a lovely way to start today (and every day, for that matter).  If you click on the link below the picture you will be re-directed to youtube for the song.

  May The Road Rise to Meet You

A few years ago my husband taught school in a different town, and came home on the weekends.  It was a difficult time for our whole family and we missed him terribly.  Around that same time,  Celtic Woman came out with their album A New Journey.  One of the songs touched my heart, and I ended up listening to it every morning in the car on my way to work. As I sang along, I liked to think that my words sped over the long miles between my husband and me and that my blessing surrounded him with my love. The link below the picture will allow you to hear this gorgeous melody for yourself. 

The Blessing by Celtic Woman, performed live at Slane Castle, Ireland

The Blessing

In the morning when you rise
I bless the sun, I bless the skies
I bless your lips, I bless your eyes
My blessing goes with you

In the nighttime when you sleep
Oh I bless you while a watch I keep
As you lie in slumber deep
My blessing goes with you

This is my prayer for you
There for you, ever true
Each, every day for you
In everything you do

And when you come to me
And hold me close to you
I bless you
And you bless me, too

When your weary heart is tired
If the world would leave you uninspired
When nothing more of love's desired
My blessing goes with you

When the storms of life are strong
When you're wounded, when you don't belong
When you no longer hear my song
My blessing goes with you

This is my prayer for you
There for you, ever true
Each, every day for you
In everything you do

And when you come to me
And hold me close to you
I bless you
And you bless me, too

I bless you
And you bless me, too

May your day be blessed with the love of family and friends, meaningful work and a sense of wonder for the beautiful world in which we live.  And today I'll close with the blessing I love the most:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; 
 The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious unto you; 
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”