Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Blessings

Each Sunday in our church, at the end of the service, the pastor stands before the congregation and gives us, what I believe is called the priestly blessing. It comes from Numbers 6:25-26 May the Lord bless you and keep you; May he make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. May he lift up his countenance on you and give you peace. These words never fail to cause my eyes to mist over. God is with us, and he is for us. There are worries a plenty in this world and in each of our lives. But on Thanksgiving day, I invite you to take the time to count the blessings in your life -- the people around your table, the food you will enjoy; the growth and promise of the younger ones; the strength and sacrifices of the older ones; the new faces at the table; the memories of those who have gone ahead. God's face does shine on us. If it were not so, this old world would have dried up and blown away a long time ago. May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving