Listen Here:
My old friend, Wes Phillips, posted a story of blessing… a story for today.
“My dad, Don Phillips, often swam hard upstream against the current of racism in that day’s culture. He paid a price for this–even in the church – like when he brought his sawmill workers one Sunday morning and was refused entrance. I was holding his hand that morning at 6 years old and heard those unkind words of rejection. We loaded back into that old Ford pickup where I sat on the lap of a man named Hucklebuck, and drove out to a little country church called Rabon’s Chapel where we could all worship together. I thank God every day for this man who had a vision of love and acceptance well ahead of his time. It informs my life today and has imprinted my heart with an indelible message of grace. It has even trickled all the way down to me later in life. How about that?”, Thank you Wes.
Sometimes we grab the blessing in the what we see…and sometimes it’s about the words… the blessing words.
One of the most important tasks of fatherhood is giving each child a blessing. Showing them, telling them, and showing them again how they are loved… no matter what–it’s the blessing. If we receive the blessing we are drawn to it, learn to lean into it, and live it out, but it’s up to us to receive it.
When I received my blessing, it wasn’t a formal event, it did’t come in words at all, I wish it did, but it didn’t. Somewhere along he way, it was hanging there in my memory, waiting for me to grab…and keep. So I grabbed with all my might.
My generation didn’t do the blessing ‘thing’ well. We could blame our not getting one ourselves, or not knowing how, but we can do something about it now. It’s never too late to accept the blessing and give one.
God started it all… all this blessing stuff. He gave careful instructions to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people in my name and I myself with bless them:
‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ (Numbers 6) It was their expectation in life…their source of peace.
Then, on the Mountain of Transfiguration God spoke from heaven… He blessed His son and encouraged those gathered. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5 NIV And, this was not the first time… the first time was at His baptism. These word and God’s actions provided a future of expectation. Blessings are filled with energy… with hope.
He claimed his son, announced His love, volunteered that He was pleased with Him, and encouraged the followers to listen to Him. He’s got something to say.
What have you been shown about your future? What have you been told?
Begin here: How would things have been different in your life, it you had heard words like these from your father? “I appreciate the kind things you do when no one is looking. I have noticed you are growing into a wise and thoughtful person and I like that. I love you and always will and I am so pleased with the way you bring out the best in people around you. I love the character and confidence I see in you. There is no doubt in my mind that the next chapter in the continuing story of our family is in good hands. May God give you power and purpose after I’m gone.” The blessing comes from life, it puts words on what pleases us as fathers…that means we have to be engaged enough to catch our kiddos doing good stuff. Paul assumed the believers at Thessalonica knew what fathers do when he compared hid role as an apostle to that of a father: “You know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” Nothing is more encouraging than receiving Dad’s blessing. So, look for the good, take notes, and ask God to give you the words that will encourage, comfort, and urge. The future is still being written.
Here’s my blessing for you…
“May you have eyes to see the best in your kids, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the mistakes, and a soul that never forgets God is in the room.”
Honor God by sharing your victories, your failures, and your surprises; tell about your breakthroughs, your doubts, and your wanderings. Describe your fears, your choices, and the everyday realities.
We can live the blessing, like Don Phillips did with Wes, or we can put the blessing into words like God did. We can do either or both… But we must be a blessing giver…We are blessed for one reason, to be a blessing.
Oh Abba, make our days useful, our nights restful, our homes peaceful, and our work fruitful.
Help us all grab and give the blessing…
Ron Rose is a lifelong storyteller, a pastor, author, convertible lover, coffee aficionado, world traveler, conversationalist, faith coach, devoted husband, proud father, inspirational eulogist, engaging speaker, on-the-fly creative, action movie junky, occasional gourmet, mountain loving heart event survivor, and a grace-loving follower of Jesus who sees Abba in every room he’s in. Oh, and he’s blessed to be a fun loving genuine baldheaded old guy.
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