“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” —Numbers 6:24–26 (niv)
The restaurant was filled with family and friends anticipating the arrival of the birthday girl, my brother’s mother-in-law, a beloved member of our extended family. We were all excited about celebrating Madeline’s surprise ninetieth.
Her daughter, Margherita, had asked me to offer a prayer of blessing. In preparation, I reflected upon Madeline’s life and the many ways she blesses those near and far. In a world of e-mails and text messages, Madeline still mails out cards with personal handwritten messages.
I searched the Bible for stories where a prayer of blessing was offered. Jacob blessed his sons and grandchildren, and before his death Moses blessed the people. I learned that a blessing is a prayer for a blessing to come. I thought about those giants of the faith—Jacob, Moses—and asked myself, Who am I to say this prayer? What kind of blessing can I offer?
When it was my turn at the party, I stood behind Madeline, laid my hands upon her shoulders, and prayed, “Lord, thank You for Madeline, for her love of the family, her faith, and her zeal for life. Bless her with strength and health so that we may gather again to celebrate her one-hundredth birthday.”
It has been a few years since the party, but the spiritual lesson continues to guide me. In spite of my imperfections, God blesses others through me, not because of any merit of my own.
Written by Pablo Diaz
