Are your children....

I am sure that when you first read the tag line you anticipated me asking if your children were smart, happy, accomplished, healthy?  But nope, I want to know do your children feel blessed?  I think of ways we bless our children and show them favor...but really do they feel blessed?

"Ah, the smell of my son it is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed" (Genesis 27:27).  This scripture is about when Jacob received Isaac's blessing.  Jacob deceived Isaac into thinking he was Esau, the older son, by bringing him game to eat and wine to drink.  Since Isaac was very old, he had asked Esau to bring him food, prepare it, and to allow Isaac to give him his blessing.  What Isaac didn't know was that Rebekah was listening (his wife) and she went to Jacob (the younger son) and told him of the request.  She even went so far as telling Jacob that if Isaac didn't believe it was Esau she would take all the blame for it.  How often have you been willing to take the blame for something you put one of your children up to?  Better yet, how often do you plot your child against their father (this is another blog for another day)?

All through chapter 27 the common emphasis is on Isaac's blessing for his son.  Do you provide a blessing to your children?  No matter our age, the approval of our parents affects how you view yourself and for ability to pass that approval on to your children, spouse, and friends.  Unfortunately, some people spend a lifetime looking for this acceptance.  This is not only vital to our self esteem, but our emotional well being, and self worth.  Do you, as a parent, struggle with accepting your children for who they are, maybe because your parents NEVER accepted you for who you are.  Maybe your father wasn't home, your mother was never interested in what you were doing, you never felt the "blessing" of your parents.  Now is time to accept that you can't change the past but you can empower the future.

I pray that you will learn to use a meaningful touch, provide a spoken message, and make a commitment to bless your children.  Empower them to know they bless you and others around them.  Savor the smell of your children's skin, the feel of their hair, and the sound of their voice.  Hug them, listen to them (don't talk, listen), and attach a meaningful value to their presence. I have been reading the book "The Blessing" by John Trent, Ph.D. and Gary Smalley.  It outlines how to achieve these elements of the blessings you will receive when you begin to bless others around you.

Remember, "Jesus took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them" (Mark 10:16).

My prayer today is:

God, my everlasting Father,
I ask for you to encourage all of my friends and family to reach out and bless someone.
Give them the courage to begin using the power of touch and promising commitment to become
better parents, wives, husbands, and friends.
Use our voices to praise, our hands to heal, and our hearts to follow You and Your commands.
In your name,

Tammy