This summer I decided to give up my golf membership and replace it with a pickle ball membership. In a perfect world I would be playing pb in my own town - instead - I’m making the drive 3 or 4 times a week to Port Elgin. Port is just up the road about a half an hour. Sometimes I drive up with my friend - C - other days I make the drive myself. On the days - C and I - drive together - we enjoy delightful conversation - catching up about our family and always - talking pb strategy and gamesmanship.

On the days I drive alone I sometimes listen to a podcast but most often - I play my favourite playlist from Spotify. It’s approximately a thirty minute drive and I can get through 5 or 6 songs. Right now I’m loving Kari Jobe’s version of THE BLESSING - over and over again. The lyrics are based on the Bible verse - Numbers 6:24-26 which says “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 face toward you and give you peace.” I love the reminder of God’s promise to be with us and to bless us.

As I drive up Hwy 21, most days - the roof is down - the music is loud and I sing these words at the top of my lungs.

The Lord bless you and keep you! I speak each of my children’s and grandchildren’s names out loud - bless them in their jobs and bless them in their schools - bless them in the lunch rooms and bless them on the school playgrounds - keep them as they drive their cars - keep them as they ride the school bus - keep them as they walk along the sidewalk - keep them in the workroom and keep them in the classroom.

Make His face shine upon you! I continue to speak their names - singing the prayer that they will feel and know God’s presence, love and joy throughout the day - that they would know contentment and strength - the their paths would be illuminated in each part of their day.

And be gracious to you. As the music continues - so do my prayers for my family! I pray for God’s favour in their lives - favour with their bosses and teachers. God’s kindness over them and through them - God’s compassion in and through them - knowing that these things are gifts given freely rather than a reward for good deeds!

May His favour be upon you and a thousand generations - Your family and your children and their children. I feel this keenly for my family. It began with my great-grand parent’s generation - then my grandparents - next my parents - and now mine …….prayers that asks for God’s blessing to continue through the years over my family. I love the book of the Psalms - written mostly by King David - and he says “it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn!” It’s huge for me to see the faith that my great grandparents stood for and passed down to my grandmother and mother and me - continue into my children and their children. It’s powerful. It’s amazing. It’s rich. It’s worth more than anything this world can offer.

May His Presence go before you - and behind you and beside you - All around you and within you - He is for you. As a parent and grandparent, I can’t possible be in 16 places at once but God can. I love that promise.

In the morning - In the evening - In your coming and your going - In your weeping and rejoicing - He is for you - He is for you! This saves me from worry and anxiety and panic - and instead it gives peace and calm and composure. Always - each school morning - for as many days as each of our boys went to school - both elementary and high school - I gathered them by the door and prayed this prayer over them. I reminded them that in all things God was with them. Often - even during university days - I would get a call or text - asking for my prayers for a specific situation affecting one of the boys on that day. I would remind them - He is for you. I’ve seen this in my own life countless times! I’ve felt the Presence of God in my rejoicing - yes - and in my weeping - especially in my weeping. He is for me. He is for you.

It never ends. My kids and grands are ever in my mind and heart.

Sometimes after the song ends - I rewind it and play it again.

Amen and amen.

It’s worth the drive to Port! So glad I made the good decision to exchange a golf membership ro a Pickle Ball membership.