Jimbo's Jots

The third desire we have, according to Mark & Debbie Laaser is the desire to receive a blessing.

Blessing is not about the prayer the crimudgeony uncle tells the ditzy aunt to say in Christmas Vacation. Nor is the prayer offered before dinner.

Blessing in this case is the assurance that we are loved and that you are a special person. The Laaser’s differentiate between being affirmed and being blessed by saying, “While affirmations are about what we do, blessings are about who we are.” They add parents are the primary vessel of blessing in the life of their children.

In the book, The Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent, the authors detail what the blessing can do for the ones giving the blessing and the one receiving. Throughout the book, they reference several times to the blessing to be given to Esau but was given to Jacob instead.

Smalley and Trent also talk about key ideas to what the Hebrew word “bless” means:

• The first idea for bless is the “bowing the knee” (Genesis 24:11 – describes the way a camel would bow to its knee so the master can get on). Bowing before someone shows that you value them.
• A second picture for the word bless could also be to honor. In this context, the message received is the idea of adding value or weight to someone – think coins added to a scale.

In not blessing someone, you are telling them that they do not have value. In fact, the Laaser’s say, two things can happens for those who do not received blessings.

• The first is they can feel shame about who they are. Shame then gets turned into worthlessness because even if they have needs or desires, no one would meet them anyway.
• The second result of not receiving a blessing is feelings of being a victim. In this scenario, the person feels they are someone without choices in life. They then live a life of sacrificing their own desires and needs to take care of others.

At Jesus’ baptism, a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) That same voice that came from heaven to bless Jesus, is the same voice that says to you, child of God, “You are my son/daughter, whom I love. With you, I am well pleased.”

So I want you to know that you are loved and valued and I LIKE YOU! I pray that you hear the blessing that comes from God, your heavenly Father, today and that you feel blessed. Now go and give a blessing to someone else.