A Light for My Path

I’ve always loved benedictions. If I’m really honest, when I was a child, the reason I liked them was because they signaled the end of my trying not to fidget in church. As an adult, I find them uplifting and always such a perfect encapsulation of the Lord’s grace towards us.

The secular definition of benediction, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is an expression of good wishes. From a Christian standpoint, it is quite simply a blessing.

There are many beautiful benedictions in the Bible. A frequently spoken one is:

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

How comforting to think about God’s face shining on us!

My dad was a tall man with large hands and long fingers, which served him well as a guitar player. When I was little, he would often rest his hand on my head as I was standing near him, sitting in his lap, or when we were saying nighttime prayers. That weighty, warm hand felt so protective. I knew I was safe when my sweet, strong daddy had his hand on my head.

Many people in the Bible speak about the strength of God’s hand and the comfort it provides. The priest Ezra, who was tasked by God to lead the Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem from Babylon said:

. . . I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me.

Ezra 7:28

I think we instinctively place our hands on someone’s head when we want to give them courage, strength, or a blessing. I know from the time each of my girls was an infant I would cradle her fragile head in my hand while nursing her. I would stroke her hair when a tired toddler settled down for a nap. And I would hold the head of a teenager to my chest when she would cry over an injustice or a broken heart. When I hug any of my grandchildren, I kiss the top of his or her head – even the ones who tower over me. They laughingly bend down to accept my kiss and the occasional tousling of their hair.

And, yes, I even still do this with my older daughter, even though she is, well, suffice it to say she is the mother of teenagers. How I wish I could still feel my younger daughter’s thick long hair under my palm. I long for the day I can bless her again; although she has received the ultimate blessing of standing directly in the grace and glory of the Lord. I hope she has felt the strength of His hand on her.

In the meantime, I have this benediction to comfort me: 

May the Lord keep watch between you and me while we are away from each other.

Genesis 31:49

Laura