Blessing…it’s every child’s dream-maker! We’re not talking about the prayer before a meal. The blessing pronounced by you on your children for their health and well-being for life is the subject we are addressing. It is a lost art in the American culture as a whole. While it can be a ceremonial act, it goes much deeper. Did you receive a pronounced blessing on your life as a child? If so, how has it impacted you? And if not, would you have wanted this spoken into your life? Would it have made a difference?
The late Bill Glass states in his book, Champions ForLife; “Children need a parent, especially a father, who speaks the words of love, hope and belonging in their lives.” A ceremonial blessing dates back thousands of years to certain cultures and is practiced even today.
You may be asking; what is a blessing? The dictionary defines it as: “approval, encouragement, a thing conducive to happiness or welfare.” Biblically, the father bless his wife and children, as recorded as far back as Genesis. The greater blesses the lesser as a sign of special favor that is intended to result in prosperity and success. Since the father possesses a “priestly role”, he is bestowed with a privilege of blessing. Think about the blessing on Joseph. Let’s look specifically at Jesus’ baptism and later at his transfiguration. God, the Father spoke these words of blessing at both. “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’”
Notice, it was spoken, directed and personal. My Son, My Son I love, My Son in whom I am well pleased! Why did Jesus need this blessing? He was about to undertake the three-year mission of great works, temptations and sufferings ending in his death on the cross for the sin of the world. Remember, he was, besides being God, fully man at that time. His Father knew what he was to face. The blessing was an announcement to those present and also to his Son; “you are special, well-equipped” for the life that lay ahead.
To bring it back to us; we are all in need of this kind of assurance through a blessing by our earthly father. Boys and girls who never hear or read those words from him, lead a very confused life, many drifting aimlessly from one empty pursuit to another. According to John Eldredge, author of Wild at Heart, young sonsneed to hear their dad confirm to them; “you have what it takes”; and daughters need to know from him; “you are lovely”. Otherwise, they will seek this approval “in all the wrong places”. Unfortunately, I was a late bloomer. Now, for each grandchild and great grandchild, I write a poem of blessing at their birth, every birthday until they’re 18, at 21 and upon theirmarriage.
Your children are going to face a world of unknown circumstances. Success or failure at every turn can be a result of receiving or not receiving a blessing. Having spent the last 50 years teaching in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers and homeless shelters has clearly shown me the depravity which comes from 1) no father 2) a bad relationship with a father 3) never hearing one positive, affirming word from their father. Simply put— It shapes their life!
So, what shape are your children/grandchildren going to be in for the rest of their life? It clearly could be in your hands. You can’t be with them everywhere they go, but your blessing can, and will. You, as father, are a “hope dispenser”! Be liberal; spread it around!