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The last year of my dad’s life he called to congratulate me on something good that had happened for me. I wasn’t at my desk so he left a voicemail. Because he was pretty sick I could barely hear him, but I heard just enough to know that he said, “I’m proud of you. Way to go.” I saved that voicemail. In fact, I saved it for years. I was able to listen to it every now and then, until my work switched over to a new phone system and deleted all my saved messages. I was pretty bummed when I came to work one day and discovered I’d lost that voicemail. I’d wanted that one particular message. Why? I think there’s something about hearing blessings from people who are important to us.
Genesis 27 tells the story of two brothers named Jacob and Esau. Esau, the older brother, was willing to give away some of his inheritance to his younger brother Jacob (the story calls it selling his birthright). Esau didn’t seem to care much for money. But one thing Esau did care about was receiving his father’s blessing. And when Jacob tricked their father Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau, Esau was devastated. The “Blessing” in the Bible contained not only words of affirmation but also helped to determine a person’s destiny. Esau, it seems, did care about this. When Esau found out that his father had given the blessing to his brother Jacob, some of the most powerful words in scripture are used. The text states “Esau wept bitterly” Gen 27:38
It’s always been amazing to me that something as simple as a few words, or in this case the withholding of those words, could have such a profound impact on a person’s life. Isaac’s blessing, given to Jacob but denied to Esau, crushed Esau’s spirit and broke his heart. But perhaps you know what I’m talking about. When someone blesses us, it lifts us up. When they withhold words of affirmation and approval it crushes our very souls. We long for blessing. Words of affirmation, praise and approval can lead us to great heights while their absence can cause sadness and despair. And I think that’s the case at any age, throughout the course of our lives. I don’t think we ever get over wanting to be blessed.
The word Blessing is used throughout the Bible because I think it’s the thing that people have longed for since the beginning of time. It’s something we all want and need, perhaps as much as anything else. And yet, it is perhaps something we fail to give as often as we should. The funny thing about it is that blessings are free. It doesn’t cost us anything to give blessings away.
This week I invite us to give blessings away as liberally as we can. Look for opportunities to bless those with whom we work, teach and live. Who knows, it just might be the voicemail someone saves, the letter they hold onto or the comment they remember for years to come.
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