Prayer for grandmothers

Father, the Lord bless thee, and keep thee. Numbers 6:24.

Father, this is the verse I have known all my life. It closed the services of my childhood church. It was sung over my children at their baptisms. I heard it read at my husband's graveside. It is older than all of those moments, and it is still true.

Receive me into the blessing this morning. Put Your name on me again, right here at this kitchen table.

Bless me with the small daily mercies that are easy to overlook. Keep me from the small daily harms I do not even see coming. Let Your face shine on me through the kitchen window where the morning sun is already at work.

Be gracious to me in the conversations of today. Be gracious in the slow steps to the mailbox. Be gracious in the quiet hours when no one calls. Give me peace at the end of the afternoon, through the night, and into the morning that follows.

Your blessing is enough. I do not need to earn anything else.

Amen.