Ryan Wilson
Senior Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Seneca, South Carolina
When I think about blessings, the story of Jacob stealing his father’s blessing from his brother Esau comes to mind. And what has always grabbed me about this story is when Esau comes to his father Isaac and cries out, “Bless me—me too, my father!” It’s excruciating and painful! Esau feels shunned, insulted and outcast! To be honest, I’ve never quite understood why Isaac couldn’t offer another blessing to another child.
What I do know is that children crave the blessing of their parents. I see it over and over in the preschool and children’s ministry at our church. I’ve also seen it in coaching children and youth sports. Children and youth look over and crave encouragement and compliments from their parents, no matter their abilities. Children want and need to be blessed by their parents. When parents bless their children, kids sense the love of their parents and know that they belong and matter to their parents. Self-esteem and confidence grow in the child who is blessed. The emotional support that a child receives from the blessing cannot be understated.
We often think of Jesus blessing children and even scolding his disciples when they were hindering the children from coming to Him. What this tells us is that Jesus knows the importance of blessings. Parents often look to scripture for help in knowing the words to share in blessing their children.
My wife, Kay, and I are empty nesters this year. We hope we have blessed our three children (young adults) so that they can thrive in their new settings. We want them to be able to be faithful, contributing members of whatever community in which they find themselves.
As I think of Scriptural blessings I want my children to hear, I think of these:
When they are down in life, I hope they hear Rom. 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When they are struggling with demons within them, I pray they hear these words of God’s protection in Phil. 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When they are anxious or doubting, may they hear Josh. 1:9: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
And finally, when they are striving to be loving toward others as Christ has loved them, I hope they hear Phil. 1:9-11: And this is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
Pray...Give...Go.