A family worth singing about

YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED to do this:

Flip open the Bible at random and take it as a message from God.

Far as I’m concerned, that’s the perfect reason to give it a shot.

What’s the harm?

There’s enough of God in the Bible that sometimes it’ll work.

You’ll know when it does.

For example, I did it for this blog post.

I went to my Bible software, scrolled down to Psalms, and clicked on a song at random.

Up came a blessing for a happy home, from Psalm 128.

That is so perfect for me, with my family.

• I have a wonderful wife.
• I have a son almost three years into his marriage to my sweet daughter-in-law.
• I have a daughter three months away from her marriage to an eye doctor who already gives me a family discount.
• And we have a dog who will not bark at a policeman who comes to our front door at 3:30 in the morning: Police at the door, 3:30 a.m.

Psalm 128 is plenty nice as is, read from any Bible translation.

But sometimes don’t you just want to tweak the translation a tad, keeping the spirit of the song but tailoring it to yourself?

I do.

Here’s Psalm 128, Steve Bible Translation:

1. Steve, you’re one happy camper. It’s all because you love the LORD and you do your best to live the kind of life that makes God one happy camper.

2. You enjoy the work you do. Lots of good things come of that—to you and to others.

3. Your wife has given you wonderful children. Those children are the best part of you. Nothing on earth brings you and your wife more joy than they do.

4. This is God smiling on you. He’s showering you with blessings like a dad in a squirt gun fight with his son.

5. May he keep pouring it on, while you soak it in. And may you get to enjoy your family for a long lifetime.

6. May you live to see your grandchildren.* And may there be peace in your family for as long as you inhale.

* No pressure, kids. That “grandchildren” thing is part of the song. I had to include it. So, son, go ahead and finish your MBA. Daughter, get married. I’ll mind my own business, which should contribute to peace in our family.