Kids Blog

Blessing your child

One of the great joys of being a parent is that we have a front-row seat to know and love another person from the moment we hold them in our arms. You, as their parents, can influence your child to become who God created them to be by pouring blessings over them throughout their life.

I recently read a great book titled The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance by John Trent and Gary Smalley. I took detailed notes which I will highlight throughout this blog, and I recommend every parent read it!

First, let's talk about what it means to give a blessing to your child. To bless someone actually means “to speak well of.” When you verbally affirm and praise your children for who they are, you are encouraging and inspiring them toward their future success.

From the beginning of time, God has been blessing his children. He started with Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:28) and continued with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). In these verses and many more throughout the Bible, God has set up a clear pattern of his blessings on His people:

1. He physically touched them
2. He verbally affirmed them
3. He valued them
4. He painted a vivid picture of their expected future
5. He invested Himself and His resources to make His words a reality.

Let’s learn how we can use these 5 elements to bless our own children.

Physical Touch

Kissing, hugging, or the laying of hands on a person were all a part of giving a blessing throughout the Bible. Jesus was a great example of giving blessings by touch. Whether it was washing someone’s feet or laying hands on a child, he was the master of communicating love in this way. (Luke 2:28; Mark 10:16). For children, these things become real when they are touched. A simple act of touch can communicate warmth, personal acceptance, and affirmation.

Verbal Affirmation

A blessing fulfills its purpose only when it’s spoken or written.  After Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” (Mark 1:11). Jacob gave a verbal blessing to each of his twelve sons and to two of his grandchildren. When God blessed us with the gift of his Son, it was his Word that “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). We too can give our children the verbal confirmation they need and yearn for.

Communicating Value

In blessing Jacob, (thinking it was Esau), Isaac said, “Surely, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed. … Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you” (Gen. 27:27, 29). A blessed field was one where there was tremendous growth and life and reward. That’s the picture Isaac gives his son, that he was of HIGH value.

Just like Jacob, your blessing should tell your child of their incredible worth even as imperfect as they may be. Tell them the things in their life that make them special, useful, and of great value to you.

Picturing a Special Future

Communicating your child’s future in their blessing is so important. Children begin to take positive steps towards their future when they hear things like: “God has given you such a sensitive heart. I wouldn’t be surprised if you help so many people when you get older.” Or “You are such a good helper. When you marry someday, I know you're going to be a great help to your family.” Feeling and believing that their future is hopeful is something they can look forward to and it can greatly affect their attitude on life.

An Active Commitment

God himself has stood behind the blessings He’s bestowed on his children, which gave them certainty and security. In the book The Blessing, John Trent says these are the four steps to staying committed:

1. We can ask the Lord to confirm the blessing.
2. We can dedicate our time, energy, and resources to caring for our children.
3. We can provide appropriate discipline with praise and correction that aligns with God’s commandments.
4. We can take initiative in asking questions to get to know them better.

By giving your child a blessing, you are intentionally watering the seeds God has already planted. God’s blessings urged His people forward, renewed their confidence, and prepared the ground beneath their feet and we as parents can do the same.

Challenge

Tonight, before you go to bed, read out loud the following blessing over your children, and then sometime later this week, write your own blessing over each of your children. Memorize it, recite it, and speak it over and over.

 ‘May The LORD bless you, and keep you; May the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; May the LORD turn his face towards you, and give you peace.’ (Numbers 6:24-26).