Streams of Mercy

This week-end was our family reunion, and folks old and young gathered from near and far to share adventures in a new place, to remember and to give thanks. It’s been said that “we don’t choose our family; they are God’s gift to us.” With each passing year, I see more clearly the gift my family has been in my life. I once read that “family is where life begins and love never ends.” How very true! The love continues to grow and we’re held in the strength of that love from year to year.

I was asked to offer a “family prayer and blessing” for our meal on Saturday evening:

Great and loving God, God of our fathers and our mothers, God of our children and our children’s children and our God: We thank you for this time of reunion, and for all the family ties that bind us together from year to year. We give thanks for all that past generations gave to us that helped us become the people we are, and pray that we will give to those who follow us in ways that will help them to become all you created them to be. Bless and complete the good we have done in the living of our lives from day to day; redeem our mistakes; and continue to work in all the circumstances of our lives for our good and for your glory. As we remember with love those no longer sitting here among us, we give thanks for the gift of new life in our family circle this past year, and for their presence in our midst tonight - a visible reminder that we have a future. May each of these little ones do their part to make this world a better place. In the words their great, great, great grandfather always used to bless each meal as the family gathered around the table: “O Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and us to thy service. Amen.”

It’s interesting to note changes from year to year. Adult children are growing more attentive to their parents and everyone enjoys the little ones! The parents with children in their tweens and teens are noticeably absent, due to summer school, travel teams and sports competitions, but still we’re family, “where life begins and love never ends,” and we give thanks!

Let’s all be sure to include intergenerational family time during the summer months – time to share new adventures, to remember the past, and to create a vision for the future. I give thanks for family, “God’s gift to us,” and for those streams of mercy, never ceasing!

Elizabeth