December 24

Day 285:  Father's Blessings

As I finished up reading Genesis today, chapters 46-50, it seems to end with a lot of blessing going on. A father blessing his sons.

I guess back then, a father's blessings carried some weight. Almost like those blessings turned out to be self-fulfilling prophecies.

It makes sense that any son would want to keep his father alive long enough to be blessed. And, any son would hope the blessing he received was a good one.

Apparently, the dying father wasn't obligated to give a positive blessing, unless he chose to do so. (And I'm glad I didn't receive a final blessing from my father when I was in my teens. Wouldn't have gone well for me.)

Jacob, the third of the OT patriarchs, was in his final days. He blessed his twelve sons (the offspring of four different mothers.) Each got something different. Some got positive blessing. And some others not so much.

That got me to wondering. How do fathers today bless their children? It's not like how God blesses His children. What God pronounces happens. Every time.

It's not like fathers today write their blessings for their children on stone for posterity sake. At least this father doesn't. So the question remains, how do fathers bless their children?

Let me wonder out loud here. It surely must include the life's example the father demonstrates. A child is blessed is his or her father lives a life worth emulating.

There must also be a connection to a father's pursuit of Jesus, right? Meaning, a father's vibrant Christian life, one that produces observable 'good gospel fruit' has a positive impact on his children.

And, I'm thinking a father's blessing his children must include some conversation. Some words shared. But lately, I've been learning that a father's verbal blessings are not, cannot be limited to pontificating (like a Pope, the Pontiff pontificates.)

While dropping wisdom bombs on the kids may, at times, be helpful, I'm sensing something more. I'm sensing fathers intentionally and effectively bless their children...by asking good questions. And sitting still long enough to hear the kids' responses.

I want to bless our kids, and their kids this week, when we are together. I am conjuring up what I hope are good questions for each of them. I want to hear their hearts. They already know mine. Probably because I write better than I listen.

Being occupied with blessing two generations of our children this next week, I'll take a break from writing these blog posts, until we all find ourselves in a new year. Hopefully a much more positive and hopeful new year.

Our Father has indeed blessed us. Merry Christmas, all!

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church Juneau