Cousins

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for cousins—
like siblings
but without the drama,
similar to me in ways that are comfortable,
and familiar with the foibles
of the adults in my life.

Blessed are You
for sleepovers and Mad Libs,
tea parties and birthday parties,
visits to city parks and county fairs,
and standing in the concession line
at the pool, dripping wet,
to buy popsicles and pretzels.

Blessed are You,
Lord our God,
King of the Universe,
for older cousins who take
the burden of all the “firsts,”
and younger cousins who put up with
the older ones bossing them around.
You knew we’d need friends
who were actually relatives
but not our immediate family,
so You made cousins.