BLESSING OUR CHILDREN!

There is a special passage of Scripture where we see a father, Jacob (Israel), blessing each of his children with a blessing tailored to their individual personalities. He wisely perceives what they can achieve through the traits they possess and blesses them accordingly, so that they may become good citizens! (Read Genesis 49).

For example, he says the following about Joseph (who provided for his family during a famine after having been mistreated by his brothers): “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over the wall. Archers attacked him mercilessly; they shot arrows at him and harassed him. But his bow remained steady, because his arms are strong. Thanks to the Mighty God of Jacob, the Shepherd and Rock of Israel! Thanks to your father’s God, who helps you! Thanks to the Almighty, who blesses you! With blessings from above! With blessings from the deep! With blessings of the breasts and the womb!” Genesis 49:22-25. (Of course, when Jacob blessed some of his children, he essentially neutralized traits that would later become stumbling blocks for them—such as in the case of Simeon and Levi, who harbored great anger and rage, even murderous impulses.)

There was a season in my life when I attended church and noticed that when children reached the age of 5 to 10, they began to understand the concept of salvation and asked Jesus into their hearts! That is when they begin to take responsibility! Most of the children I worked with were toddlers or a little older! At church, we were encouraged to hold them while sitting in a rocking chair! Your prayers and blessings truly matter; I learned at Church on the Way that whenever we rocked the children, we should tell them, “I love you!” God also speaks of telling our children what He has done for us—how He has set us free—so that they may learn to love the God of their parents (read Deuteronomy 11:18–19).

LOVING THE CHILDREN
“Fix these words in your hearts and minds;
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Teach them to your children and repeat them
When you are at home
And when you walk along the road,
When you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 11:18–19.