A Midlife Anointing
Sister, hearing the call from God to minister to you by virtue of love, faith, sacrifice, and covenant, I place my hands upon you to anoint you in your pain.
I bless your head that you hair will not fall out from sorrow
I bless your mind, that it will function properly and not betray you
I bless your eyes that they will see true and clearly the light and darkness before them
I bless your ears that they may hear the music of your soul
I bless your bones that they will hold up your body and feel its rhythms
I bless your feet that they will take you through all the paths that you must walk
I bless your heart that it will beat
I bless your face that light will shine from your countenance, and that you will know what it is to be beautiful
I bless your teeth that they will be strong against the grinding
I bless your mouth that it will be a good servant to you
I bless your hands, that they will be productive and quick, that you may work hard and fast without tiring
I bless your soul with a will to live
I bless your ears that they will hear wisdom
I bless your blood, that it will course properly through your veins and fill you with life
I bless you with hunger for knowledge
I bless you with bravery, and courage in the face of all you learn
I bless you with faith and trust, and also vigilance and guile
I bless you with the wisdom of women, that you may navigate danger and Patriarchy
I bless you with friends, who will carry their burdens beside you, and love you when you are weak
I bless you with the gift of homemaking, that you may always have a place to go
I bless you with sunshine and rain, with valleys and peaks
I bless you with curiosity, that you may find joy and interest upon your journey
I bless your life with children, that you may rejoice
I bless you with sleep, that you may rest from each day
I bless you also with sleepless nights, that you may know solitude
I bless you with delight, with fragrant moments, with summer nights
I bless you, I bless you, I bless you.
In your pain, in your joy, I bless you.
You are blessed.
(Photo Credit: “.blessed” by tazen, license here)