The LORD bless you.

The LORD make

   His face

   to shine upon you

and be gracious to you.

The LORD lift up

   His countenance

                 upon you

and give you peace.

     Numbers 6. 24-26

(These words make saying,

"Bye. See you later,"

       seem rather lame.

These words proclaim

    the name of the LORD

upon those that God

has entrusted in our care,

by seeking their well-being,

His Presence, His grace

 and His peace over them.

What a radical difference

that would make in

          our relationships,

if we verbalized

 these words over others

--those we love,

those we struggle to like,

even those who are

          set against us.

The benediction goes

               both ways.

God transforms hearts

and puts His blessing

               among us.)

O LORD,

May we write Your name

  at the top of our day.

May we write Your name

  over our relationships.

May we bear witness

   to Your holy name

by what we say and do

and pray and hold sacred.

May we seek Your blessing

     upon others

and not just for ourselves.

You have given us

  Your words of blessing

to speak over those

   all around us.

Help us not to just

    recite these words,

but to love others

          through them.