I feel especially blessed this month.
First, I am blessed because my wife’s recovery has gone well. For those who may not know, the past nine months have been quite challenging for Cathy. She’s been through hip replacement surgery and shoulder replacement surgery and then an infection broke out in the new hip.
But she has received very good care and, thanks to your thoughts and prayers, is well on her way to full recovery. Two of the specialists who treated her have released her and we’re hoping for similar good news from the remaining pair quite soon. She still has a way to go with PT and it has been a tough time for both of us, but now we can see through to the other side. Like I said, blessed.
Next, I received very good news doing my taxes. Yes, really. Like most everyone else in America, I’ve been working on tax preparations the past few weeks—I know, not
fun. But when I figured up my totals to report, I had quite a pleasant surprise. Even with all the other demands of life last year, I discovered I sold more books in person in 2022 than any other year as an author! (I know I should have known before but with attending to all of Cathy’s health needs, I never took the time to add up all the numbers.)
I am grateful so many readers discovered my Haunted Shores Mysteries last year and added my novels to their library. It all makes me really look forward to 2023. I feel particularly blessed, for good reason.
So, I thought I’d use this month’s blog to send some blessings to you and since it’s March, those simply have to be Irish blessings. Below are just a few of my favorite Irish blessings.
I try to remember this one often. I love the images, particularly the image of God holding us in the palm of his hand, which my wife really needed this past year.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
This past week, I was distressed watching the news of the roofs of homes in California caving in from those incredible snowfalls. I tried to imagine how much snow that would take and thought this blessing appropriate.
May the roof above us never fall in. And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.
With the pandemic and the economic struggles in the past few years, we’ve learned life is often not easy. So maybe this blessing will help.
If God sends you down a stony path, May He give you strong shoes.
Since Cathy and I just celebrated our 50th Anniversary! (while she was recovering from the nasty infection, no less) I thought this blessing apropos.
When the roaring flames of your love have burned down to embers, May you find that you’ve married your best friend.
And finally, you couldn’t have Irish blessings without a mention of the devil.
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour Before the devil knows you're dead.
Whether you are Irish or not, I hope you are especially blessed this St. Patrick’s Day and the whole month.