There is an ancient tradition that somehow never made it into recent history. The blessing.
When our patriarchs were ready to concede life and move on, they would speak a blessing over their children that became a sort of premonition and later reality. Read the words Noah spoke over his children. Shem's blessing was pithy:
May the Lord, the God of Shem, be praised! May Canaan be Shem's slave. Genesis 9:26
From the lineage of Shem came Abraham, and later, his sons who, you guessed it, enslaved the land of Canaan.
The Old Testament is peppered with such predictions and blessings. It's important to take your words seriously and not withhold blessings from your family, co-workers and employers. A wise leader will not refrain from speaking any words of encouragement, motivation or, yes, that word again, blessing.
Only you know the right words for each person and what it will take to truly empower them. If not, write their name on paper, pray, and whatever God leads you to write, speak those words audibly over them. You will be blessed for blessing them.
My blessing today for you is this:
May the Lord give you success,
and may he give you and your children success.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 115:14-15
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