2013-08-20 – In 2004, I wrote the following post:

“It is a Jewish tradition to count our blessings each day. There are blessings that form a part of the daily prayers and there are spontaneous blessings that come from life. I have a hard time with prayer because it is my feeling that I am talking to the wall. But I do feel grateful for many things in life, things that are daily there and things that I wish were there. The following is my variation on the daily blessings that Orthodox Jews recite.

Blessed is the creator.
Blessed is the one who supplies what we need.
Blessed is the one who permits that which is forbidden.
Blessed is the one who makes the blind to see.
Blessed is the one who makes the deaf to hear.
Blessed is the one who makes the silent to speak.
Blessed is the one who gives strength to the weary.
Blessed is the one who can change.
Blessed is the one who is patient.
Blessed is the one who can rest.
Blessed is the one who is worthy of trust.
Blessed is the one who is wholehearted.
Blessed is the one who forgives.
Blessed is the one who is humble.
Blessed is the one who sees good in all.
Blessed is the one who is unique.
Blessed is the one who serves.
Blessed is the one who is just.
Blessed is the peacemaker.”

I wrote it without reference to a god deliberately. I wanted the blessings to apply to humans. Gods don’t need blessings. We do.

Ten years later, I like most of these. I’m not sure I like the talk of permitting that which is forbidden. That might work sometimes but not others. I think I would rather say “free those who are bound,” which is probably closer to the Hebrew passage it came from. And it fits with the next four.

I would add to the blessing for the one who forgives, blessing also the one who is slow to anger.

I would also add the following:

Blessed is the one who is cheerful.
Blessed is the one who makes music.
Blessed is the one who laughs and tells jokes.