We’ve all heard the expressions “Bless your heart” and “All the best” and so many others. With these words we extend good wishes to those around us. Such expressions are like a prayer calling down heaven’s blessings upon those we care about. And we all need blessings.
There are those who may say that these are meaningless clichés. But when someone offers to another a heartfelt wish for a blessing, it is never trite, never tired or inappropriate.
Expressing the sincere hope that one will be blessed and watched over is a practice as old as time. For example, centuries ago the Lord gave to Moses a blessing that he was to impart upon his people. Its words have been recited by ministers of various faiths for generations, and they have been set to music and sung by choirs around the world. The supplication is for the Lord to watch over His children, to pour out His promised blessings upon true followers, to give peace. The words are:
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 the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace.1
In our day, many families have a simple expression of blessing that has become a beloved tradition. Every night as they retire to bed, they express to one another the same hope, the same desire: “Sweet dreams.” For them, it’s just another way of saying, “The Lord bless you and keep you until morning.” We all hope that our loved ones will be blessed, will be protected, will have peace and joy in their hearts and homes.
Program #3986
1 See Numbers 6:24–26