Weddings. Retirements. Reunions. Departures. Wakes and funerals. They don’t happen every day, but when they do, they present the opportunity (or obligation) to raise a glass and offer a toast to someone, whether or not alcohol is involved.
The practice started in ancient Greece when people sometimes poisoned the wine to get rid of a dinner companion; offering a toast was considered a good faith gesture (and perhaps a last chance for the poisoner to change his mind). While most of us don’t worry these days about being poisoned by anything other than our own bad judgment, we are still sometimes called upon to raise a glass and say something to—or about—someone else.
At such moments, you may offer a good wish to a friend (“May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, but never catch up”) or a word of advice to a bride or groom (“To keep your marriage brimming with love in the cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up”—Ogden Nash). But why not pray instead?
Watch This: A Wedding Toast Like No Other!
I’ve been asked to raise a glass or offer a toast at all sorts of events. For many years I struggled to find something appropriate to say—until I started a mental collection of a few go-to prayers that make a fitting toast on almost any occasion.
Here are a few of my favorites:
May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness (Genesis 27:28a, NIV).
May God give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed (based on Psalm 20:4).
May God be gracious to you and bless you and make his face shine upon you (based on Psalm 67:1).
(For a wedding) May God grant you, today and every day that is to come, a love that burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame; the love which many waters cannot quench, and mighty rivers cannot wash away; the love which lasts longer than life is stronger than death, and is worth more than all the wealth in the world (based on Song of Songs 8:6-7).
May you have God’s strength to steer you,
God’s power to uphold you,
God’s wisdom to guide you,
God’s eye for your vision,
God’s ear for your hearing,
God’s word for your speech,
God’s hand to protect you,
God’s pathway before you,
God’s shield for your shelter,
and God’s angels to guard you (based on the Breastplate of St. Patrick).
And, of course, the traditional Irish blessing is almost always appropriate:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Once you’ve committed one or two of these to memory, you will never be at a loss when called upon to raise a glass, and you’ll do more than make a toast; you’ll be a blessing.
