“May the road rise” Irish Blessing Printable

 

 

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind always be 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.

Irish Blessing     

 

“May the Road Rise to Meet You” is an Irish blessing that is often used as a prayer.  It has traveled throughout the centuries in songs, word of mouth, and even a popular cross-stitch pattern. The words connect centuries of those who have faithfully hung onto hope through their faith.

 "May the road rise to meet you" was originally written in Gaelic. The phrase is actually mistranslated quite a bit from the original Gaelic language it was written in. “Rise” actually translates more accurately to “succeed.” So the text means,“May you succeed on your road.”  The link on the text is to Crosswalks post on the origin and meaning of the saying including the longer original verses.

 The author of the blessing isn't known. Many attribute it to Saint Patrick, as it resembles some of his writings.  The Irish like to use images of nature and everyday life in their blessings and prayers. Just as the blessing starts with a prayer for you to succeed on your road in life, it also ends with an image of safety as we are held in the palm of God's hand.

 

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 May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

 

 

 

 

 

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All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

 

 

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Originally posted on comfortspringstation.com on 12/29/15. 

Updated post on 12/28/18.   

#3 most popular post in 2025    

Written more than 25 years ago, Robert Fulghum’s best-selling book of essays, All I Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten, still speaks to millions of readers today. I discovered his ideas some years ago during a conference. I made an 8″ x 11″ sheet with this essay, laminated it, and added a magnet. I have had it on my refrigerator ever since.

I periodically re-read the words and am always touched by his wisdom. Today, I share this essay with you. It is nearing the end of the year, and as we consider changes or resolutions to improve our lives, I suggest we all contemplate these simple truths. If each of us cleans up our own messes, lives a balanced life, and sticks together, consider how much happier our families, communities, nations, and world would be.

 You can still get this 2015 free printable: 

 

 

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 Quote:

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned:

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don’t hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.

 Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all – the whole world – had cookies and milk at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

 And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

  

Over the years, I’ve made 2 versions of the quote. The first version was first shared in 2015 (above). I’ve developed a new version which I hope you like. This is more colorful with leaves and flowers. It is sized 8.5″ x 11″.

 

 

 

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I made a larger 11″ x 14″ version for an easier to read copy.

  

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As with all my printables, they are for your personal use.   Please do not post these images on your own site unless you link back here.

 

 

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