Go, My Children, With My Blessing

This was the closing hymn at church two weeks ago.  As I was singing it, I thought it might be an interesting song to sing at the end of a funeral, as a reminder of the departed's relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but also as a comforting statement of God's relationship toward living believers.  As I was typing the lyrics this morning, it occurred to me that this is what believers should remember and live as their daily "sending song," whether at the end of a worship service or at the conclusion of a personal daily devotion.

Written by a Lutheran pastor of Slovak descent, Jaroslav Vajda, the hymn is one of more than 200 he either composed or translated during his later life.  To learn more about the reverend's perspective on the piece, click here.



Go, My children, with My blessing,
Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you;
You are My own.
In My love's baptismal river,
I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing ---
You are My own.

Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you,
What I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son's story;
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.

Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Closer to Me;
Grow in love and love by serving,
Joyful and free.
Here My Spirit's power filled you;
Here His tender comfort stilled you.
Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Joyful and free.

I the Lord will bless and keep you
And give you peace;
I the Lord will smile upon you
And give you peace:
I the Lord will be your Father,
Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, My children, I will keep you
And give you peace.

This hymn also has a verse that can be used at weddings:

In this union, I have joined you
Husband and wife,
Now, My children, live together
As heirs of life:
Each the other's gladness sharing,
Each the other's burdens bearing,
Now, My children, live together
As heirs of life.