Goodbye Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

—Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)

I remember your smile when I came in the door. It would start at the corner of your mouth and work its way up to your eyes lighting up your whole face. Your blue eyes would twinkle, and my heart would sing. Has it only been two months since you left?  It seems like forever since I’ve seen your smile. Now it spreads through my mind illuminating my thoughts. Unexpectedly I remember the benediction you would often sing when you were preparing to work on your choir music.

Your voice floods my mind. “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you.” The New Living Translation reads, “May the Lord smile on you.” Just as you once smiled, your smile has now melded into His. My heart catches with the memory of your voice dropping to sing, “And give you peace.” This morning His peace is your benediction to me. Your goodbye blessing. But it will not always be goodbye. One day it will also be…hello.

© 2018 Lynn Lacher

www.lynnlacher.com