Blessings that make a difference

Regardless of our differences in religion, language or ideas, there is no heart that is without an inner divine reference. And each family seems to have a unique impression about when, how and if God makes known his thoughts and feelings toward them, often referred to as blessings. What impressions about God’s blessing are you imparting to the children in your family?

From one of my interviews about spirituality emerged this family’s image of a God who does not bless, but forgets, entire groups of people.

As a young child, if I questioned my family about God or spiritual things, it was often tossed aside as unimportant and not for people like us, that is, those who God forgets.

My grandmother considered our family in the group of those God forgets because we didn’t go to church and there was just too much disaster and brokenness in our lives.

A second family presents a God whose nature is to bless.

Our parental blessing was invested with a certain higher power, intended for the good of our children.

May God bless you and guard you.
May God show you favor and be gracious to you.
May God show you kindness and grant you peace.

To this day, the blessing is prized highly by the children. The value of the benediction repeatedly spoken by the father and mother represents the working of forces that make for righteousness, and the continuity of the Jewish spirit.*

Adult family members can invoke God’s blessing, in their own words and style:

  • Bob Dylan’s parental blessing in song:   “May God bless and keep you always…..   …May you grow up to be righteous, may you grow up to be true,
    May you always know the truth and see the lights surrounding you,
    May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong.
    May you stay forever young…..”*
  • “God, may the people in my life never be left wondering if they are of value to you or to me. Help me to bless them with my words and my actions.   Remind me not to leave my words to chance but use them to protect, encourage and renew.” (my prayer)
  • “When inspired, I bless my son noting milestones in his life from the past week and anything else that moves me about my relationship with him. There are no specific formulations to these personal prayers, just simple sentiments like, ‘May you continue to approach the smallest discoveries in life with wonder and joy’ or ‘May I continue to learn how to be the best mother to you.’ (Dasee Berkowitz)

What do your blessings toward your children look like in your family?

*Jewish Encyclopedia: “Ethics of Judaism,” pt. ii., p. 213; Bob Dylan, “Forever Young.” Published by Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO

Tweetable:

  • Regardless of our differences in religion or ideas no heart is without an inner divine reference. Click to Tweet
  • Adult family members can invoke God’s blessing on kids in their own words and style. Some examples here. Click to Tweet

Tired of the small stuff?

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.” –Marian Wright Edelman

At times, I fight to believe these words.

Small daily differences don’t bring me recognition. Sometimes not even a thank you. They don’t give me any sense of achievement or accomplishment. Waiting for them to add up to some kind of big difference seems hopeless. At my lowest times, I’ve read accounts of small daily differences, written by the person who observed them, and found inspiration to keep going.

A small daily difference in one man’s relationship

Chris Erskine tells the story of a man who traveled across the country to tend to his ex-wife, helping see her through an agonizing stem cell transplant at City of Hope. It hadn’t helped so much, and now more chemo, more agony.

He explained how he’d stay with his ex-wife on those long days when her current husband needed to go home to rest a little. Mr. Erskine noted, “Marriage is hard. It succeeds pretty rarely. When it fails, the scars are often nasty and long-lasting.  How many of us would have the decency and character to come back the way he has? What a lesson for kids.”

A small daily difference in one man’s career

Meg James tells the story of Ralph Roberts, founder of media giant Comcast Cable, who began taking his school-age son to meetings with investment bankers when they were doing deals. But after Brian Roberts graduated from the Wharton School, he didn’t start out at corporate headquarters. Instead, Ralph Roberts sent his son out in the field to install cable lines in people’s homes.

Brian could have started in a corner office, but he didn’t. Ralph told him that “you will share my values, and your mother’s values, or you won’t work here.” Ms. James notes, “A lot of fathers try to pass their legacy and family business to their children but few have done it better than Ralph.”

A small daily difference a young child can make right now

We supply the building blocks of a child’s conscience and character. Small blocks like Kindness Love Notes and many others, stacked consistently, make a big, strong tower.

 

Tweetable:  Persevere in small acts of goodness; they add up to a big difference in your soul. Case in point here. Click to Tweet