Reading: Psalm 144:10-15
From the deadly sword deliver me;
rescue me from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
our oxen will draw heavy loads.
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.
Blessed is the people of whom this is true;
blessed is the people whose God is the LORD (NIV).*
Ottawa River cove — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
Yesterday, my afternoon work routine was interrupted by visitors. First my oldest son dropped in. My wife and I worked to quickly put together a delicious lunch. After the meal we talked business for about an hour. Tim wanted some help and advice with his market gardening enterprise. It’s difficult and challenging work, and the busy spring season will be here soon enough.
Not long after, my youngest son and his wife dropped over for a visit. Their spring and summer schedule includes working tours to locations in the Yukon, the US, western Canada and the British Isles. They will be doing live history shows at museums and historic homes on two continents.
After everyone left I said, “I didn’t get much work done this afternoon.”
My wife replied, “You got the most important thing done—time with your family. You need to appreciate these times. You won’t be seeing them much this summer.”
Of course she is right. Time spent with family is precious. You can sense that same appreciation of family in today’s reading from Psalm 144. David, the psalmist, makes this observation: Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision.
That’s what I want for my family. We want peace and prosperity. These are blessings that come to us from the good hand of God. Yesterday, I experience these things. Together, we are truly blessed.
Response: LORD God, I thank you for my family. In them and through them I am blessed beyond measure. You have been very kind to us. Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you see family gatherings as a blessing, or as a burden? What makes those times enjoyable and memorable for you?
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA
Volume II of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is available now. For a closer look at Volumes I and II click here.
I love the Psalms 
Your timing in this post is precise David! My wife and I have to go babysit our grandson over night until tomorrow. I was pondering the effect on my blog schedule, but in this post I am suitably chastised. God is good in how he brings such guidance to us!
My heart yearns for a grandchild! Count your blessings, Alan Kearns.
I see them as times of joy and reflection, always a good time and am very thankful for all of my family.
I totally agree. Currently, I’m missing my extended family in western Canada. I hope to visit later this summer or early in the fall.
Not saying we are not good fathers but my experience is the same. When our sons were still teenagers my wife often insisted that I put down “My important stuff” to go outside and play ball with the boys. Now they are men and either one or the other calls us just to visit every day. How blessed we are to have those loving bonds tightly tied while we were just spending precious time together. (Can’t wait for our annual northward pilgrimage to go spend time with them and our grandchildren)!
I spent a lot of time playing ball with my boys too. It was time well spent!
Thank you for this; haven’t finished much book lately but this puts it in perspective
God bless you in your role as a father.
Aww thanks