By Ann Farabee

Bless you.

We say it in daily conversation. We say it in the church. We say it to those grieving or suffering.

We often say it lightly, to let someone know we see that they are busy busy busy — or perhaps overwhelmed with something.

The most popular ‘bless you’ may be when someone sneezes. This began when it was believed that as you sneeze, your heart stops — and that the ‘bless you’ could set your heart back to go.

We say it often — but maybe not often enough.

In Numbers 6:22-26, the Lord told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons that they should bless the children of Israel with these words:

The Lord bless you.

This is asking God to show favor.

And keep you.

This is asking God to give protection.

The Lord make his face shine upon you.

This is asking God to be pleased.

And be gracious to you.

This is asking God to be compassionate and show mercy.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you.

This is asking God to give his approval.

And give you peace.

This is asking God to bring quiet, calm and serenity.

Bless you.

The Hebrew for ‘bless you’ is on bended knee.

It is a prayer.

It is a prayer worth praying.

Pray it for someone you love — now.

Pray it for someone who needs encouragement — now.

Pray it for yourself — now.

Pray it for our country — now.

Put it to use.

God desires to bless us.

You never know — The ‘bless you’ may change a heart that has stopped — and set it back to go!

Bless you!