The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.
—Numbers 6:24–26
The soil of the Pacific Northwest can support a bergenia, which grows dark-green leathery leaves and beautiful flowers on tall rhubarb-like stalks. This plant needs humus-rich, moist soil to thrive. For bergenias to thrive, they need to be planted in a shady area in acidic soil.
Plant a bergenia in Oregon and it’ll blossom. But plant one in the hot, dry, alkaline soil of Arizona, and it’ll wither. Just as a flower needs the right kind of environment in which to grow, we have been made with a desire for blessing in order to move fruitfully into the future. The blessing is an ongoing and profound transference of faith, favor, and destiny from one generation to the next. In historical Jewish culture, the blessing bestowed favor and acceptance upon each child (both sons and daughters), not based on accomplishments, but based on who they were as children of God. And while many informal blessings were given to the child as he grew, these culminated with a formal blessing when the child neared the age of fourteen or fifteen. Generation to generation, the blessing was transferred. Giving your children the blessing means providing them with a long-range view for a greater tomorrow. It means speaking hope, favor, and dedication over them and letting them know that you will always be there to join them on the journey of reaching their destinies. Make sure your children are growing in the rich soil of your blessing.
Application
1. What were the last words of blessing that you spoke over your children?
2. Are you planning a formal blessing ceremony for your children? (If not, consider starting now!)
3. Did you receive a formal blessing from your parents? What can you learn from (of lack thereof) that event?
Prayer
Father, allow me to pass down a powerful blessing to my children. Amen.
An excerpt taken from Raising Kingdom Kids. Discover more at RaisingKingdomKids.org.