The image on the poster was of two hands cupped together and a beautiful, glowing spark resting in the palms with more golden sparks falling from above - the background was black so the golden sparks were the only light in the image. It reminded me of the scene in "The Never-Ending Story" when all that is left of Fantasia is a tiny little spark held in the hand of the Empress - full of potential and hope and dreams.
When I joined the Orthodox Church 20-some-odd years later, I noticed that this verse is recited in the liturgy by the Priest during the Dismissal - here's the whole prayer: "Lord, bless those who praise You and sanctify those who trust in You. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the whole body of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and do not forsake us who hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the clergy, to those in public service, to the armed forces, and to all Your people. For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming from You, the Father of lights. To You we give glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages."
I love that prayer very much - no matter how distracted I may be at the moment when this prayer is said, I am always brought back into the present by the recitation of James 1:17 in the Dismissal. The best thing about wedding preparations for me and my husband was picking out our wedding bands. We went to the home of our dear friends who have a business selling jewelry and got our fingers sized and we chose our rings and the inscription for the inside of them. We chose to have "James 1:17" inscribed inside our rings, because we each feel that the other is truly our "good and perfect" gift from God.
The Apostle James' Epistle is my husband's favorite book of the Bible and he used to read it over and over throughout the year in his personal devotions. His brother is named James and he has always liked that name. When we discovered that I was pregnant with a baby boy we decided that we would name him James.
So this verse is very special to me and means so much. As much as I would like to write in a journal or scrapbook or organize photo albums to record the many gifts God has given me, I'm just not that organized. And I really enjoy reading the blogs of others who are married and raising children and are members of the Holy Orthodox Faith - so I've become inspired to try one of my own, technologically impaired as I may be...
So here goes! I imagine it will be a bit clunky at first or maybe always - but I'll keep working at it and will certainly try to make it a more lovely place for myself and for those of you who may read this. If you're reading this and you are a blogger yourself and have any suggestions or hints for me in this regard - your comments are MOST welcome! :)
Now it is past my bedtime. Sweet dreams dear Blog (and fellow Bloggers - if you're reading this) :)
