As Jacob was blessed by Abraham, so we all yearn to receive the blessing of our parents. It is also natural for us to want to "pass on to our children more than we received. This book can put into words what you missed as a child as well as provide practical, hands-on ways of communicating unconditional love and acceptance to your children and loved ones." (p. 5) Please don't get me wrong. I had a wonderful childhood and felt the love of my parents. However, part of human nature is doubting our true worth and competing with siblings, if there are any. If possible, I want to eradicate any possibility of my children's doubts they they are loved and truly treasured by their parents, regardless of what choices they make in life. The world tells us otherwise. This book equipped me with five specific tools to counteract what the world is telling my children. If I have made the book seem as if it is only written for parents to use with their children, I need to clarify. While that is the focus of the writing, these principles enrich and bring healing in all intimate relationships such as friendships, parents, or your spouse. We all, whether adult or child, want to know we are treasured by someone. The Blessing will tell you how to accomplish that through five different venues: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value to the individual, dreaming with and believing in him or her about a very special future God has for him/her, and a commitment to bestowing the blessing. Using Biblical truths and stories of Jesus' life on earth, Trent paints us a vivid picture of the changed lives that are a result of such a blessing.
Why should we bless our children and others? As Mr.Trent explains, it allows them to develop intimate relationships when they are older and it "lays the foundation" for a genuine and fulfilling relationship with God that can survive the rocky teen years". We need others, but especially our children, to feel that unconditional acceptance with us, as parents, rather than seeking "counterfeit blessings" in the world through money, drugs, poor choices in friends, cults, or even success. If you missed that blessing in your life from parents or grandparents of other significant adults, the book also contains helpful information in overcoming that hurt and not allowing it to define who you are or passing the same lack of blessing on to your own family.
How I wish space allowed me to explain deeper each of the five components of the blessing. This book is a must read for all parents but I highly recommend it to anyone who works with children be they Sunday school teachers or public school teachers or counselors. I also feel this book would be helpful to those who may have had a rocky childhood and may find it difficult to be loved or to love unconditionally.
The Blessing by John Trent and Gary Smalley is a reprint. It has been updated by Trent with ideas and questions that pause you to think about how to apply what you have read as well as rich Internet resources. The Blessing is available on amazon.com, christianbook.com or your local Christian bookstore.
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