How do you explain in terms young children can understand what it means to āblessā someone in the name of God?
The word āblessingā can be difficult for children to understand. One reason we struggle is because there is a lot going on with that word. We remember that when Jacob tricked his father, Isaac, into giving Jacob his brotherās blessing, Isaac couldnāt just ātake it back.ā
David Stubbs writes in A More Profound Alleluia that a blessing is āa calling for the Holy Spirit to come and transform us.ā Being blessed by God means āthat we become holy, reflective of God and the purposes of God.ā
Our understanding of a blessing seems to have been diluted somewhat over the years. We donāt really expect God to transform us because someone speaks certain words over us. But blessings given in the Bible suggest that these words are more than just something nice to say. On , Dallas Willard wrote, āBlessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isnāt just words. Itās the actual putting forth of your will for the good of another person. It always involves God, because when you will the good of another person, you realize only God is capable of bringing that.ā
When we are blessed, God is working in our lives to transform us. We arenāt blessed just so weāll be happier. We are blessed so that we can bless others. Because being blessed carries with it a responsibility, the words of blessing at the end of our worship are often coupled with a charge, calling us to go out into the world as Godās servants. God commands us to go out into the world, but also to know that God goes with you. Just as God calls us and welcomes us into worship, God also sends us forth ready and able to do Godās work.
So how do we explain all that to children? Sometimes for young children, definitions of complex words will lose some of their nuance. Weāre OK with that. The nuance will come later. A simple definition for blessing wonāt explain all the things wrapped up in that word. With that in mind, we might say, āWhen we bless each other, we are praying that God will walk along with that person and be right next to them, protecting them, and helping them to do Godās work.ā
About the Authors
Laura Keeley is a regional catalyzer for Faith Formation Ministries in the CRCNA and director of childrens ministries at 14th St. CRC in Holland, Mich.
Robert J. Keeley is a professor of education emeritus at Calvin University and leads music at 14th St. Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mich.