Bless the Children

This morning my friend Pastor Andy Wilson preached his sermon, “Born to be Blessed” with a humble urgency that resonated with me. He used the account of Isaac’s blessing his two sons, first Jacob posing as the eldest son Esau, and then Esau begging for a blessing and receiving a lesser one. The power of those blessings helped shape God’s people Israel. (Genesis 27:30-41)

The Synoptic Gospels all give an account of Jesus blessing the little children. Mark gives his account as follows in chapter ten, versus 13-16 (NIV):

“¹³People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”

I can’t think of anything more Christlike than to bless children. Andy spoke of our responsibility as spiritual leaders to bless those whom we have been called to serve; our children, grandchildren, husband and wife, various church groups, friends, family, and our peers and subordinates at work. Bless them out loud and with conviction. For our public school teachers, quiet blessings from the heart and true concern for your charges can be quite effective.

Both of my sons-in-law asked for my blessing before officially asking my daughters to marry them. We gave it (because it is important to me to include Cindy) and meant it and we watch over the blessing like a farmer watches over his flocks. We want them to flourish, pray for them to do so, and are thankful that God watches over them. It is likewise with my son and his wife. They asked me to perform the wedding and we blessed the rings, the couple, and everybody else would could get our hands on. Those we couldn’t, we blessed in absentia.

It seemed the Lord was to leave nothing to chance when it came to having me write about blessings. Even in my short lunchtime reading Charles Dickens spoke to me of the importance and lasting power of the blessing. In this chapter, the young Oliver Twist is in the process of running away from the cruel undertaker’s family when he stops by the workhouse and bids farewell to his little friend Dick. From the chapter entitled ‘Parting From Little Dick” in Oliver Twist:

“’I hope so,’ replied the child. ‘After I am dead, but not before. I know the doctor must be right, Oliver, because I dream so much of Heaven, and Angels, and kind faces that I never see when I am awake. Kiss me,’ said the child, climbing up the low gate, and flinging his little arms round Oliver’s neck. ‘Good-b’ye, dear! God bless you!’

          The blessing was from a young child’s lips, but it was the first that Oliver had ever heard invoked upon his head; and through the struggles and suffering, and troubles and changes, of his after life, he never once forgot it.”

The power of a blessing can stand against any number of nasty things. Give them freely, meaningfully, from the heart and they will be etched within the story of the receiver’s life.

And finally I offer the Priestly Blessing, as Andy shared it today with us, from Numbers 6, 24-26. As I type this I have my children and their children, and my family, especially the Craws as they grieve, firmly in mind. Won’t you, as you read this, put someone firmly in your mind and bless them?

From Numbers 6: 22-26 (NIV) -

“²²The Lord said to Moses, ²³“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

²⁴“ ‘ “The Lord bless you

and keep you;

²⁵the Lord make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

²⁶the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace.” ’

To paraphrase Ty Webb (Chevy Chase) in Caddyshack: be the blessing.

In His grip, jerry