A blessing: personalized

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
We can’t constantly be with our kids. Psalm 23 can steel us. Without fail, God is with our children. So say a blessing for your child that reassures them that God is always with them and strengthens and protects them.

A mother and a child walk in the woods

Say this to your child (inserting their name in the blank):

The Lord is ___’s shepherd.


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Mother and child by Ross Griff, who licensed this photo on Flickr under Creative Commons License

A Blessing: Comfort

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
A painting of a shepherd with a rescued sheep.
Psalm 23 can be offered as a source of support for so many of our daily situations. It’s a multi-purpose tool!

Consider just a few possible uses:

  • Child stressed out about a test? Suggest she think about being led to calm waters.
  • Mom in need of revived energy? Psalm 23 reminds us that God always offers restoration.
  • Child fearful of what lurks in the closet? Emphasize that God is our shepherd; his trusty shepherd’s crook makes us feel secure.
  • Dad worried about the finances? Our cup overflows.

Here’s another way to present Psalm 23: Use it to bless your kids.

Say your child’s name and the words from Psalm 23 that are applicable to your child at any particular moment. For example:

May the Lord comfort you and lead you beside still waters.


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Shepherd painting by Harold Copping, a photo offered for free use at Bible Picture Gallery.

A Blessing: Restored

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction. Psalm 23:3, The Message

An adult and a child take in a sunset on the beach

A second chance,
A breath of fresh air,
Revived energy,
Mended strength,
A restored soul.

Remind your child with a blessing that tells that God does all of that for us.

Say your child’s name and…

May the Lord renew your strength and your soul.


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A beach scene by Leland Francisco, who licensed this photo on Flickr under Creative Commons License

A Blessing: Go with God

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
One of the unfortunate things about parenting is that feedback on our techniques takes years to show results! We have to place our trust in God.

Blessing your child may not give you instant “results” but it is powerful medicine for your child.

Start simple.

A child starts off on a walk

As your child leaves for school in the morning, say their name and…

' Go with God!

What do you say as your kids leave the house?


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Photo credits:
Going walking by Jane Cantral, who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

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A Blessing: Choose Joy

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
It is a passion of mine: once a week I encourage you to bless your child(ren) and to offer you a blessing that you can try out with your kids.

The word “blessing” means speaking well, or saying good things of someone. It comes from the Latin word benedicere or benediction. Blessing your children can, over time, only lead to positive outcomes. Your words (really, just simple words) communicate your child’s high value to God, and to you. A blessing gives kids a vision of what they can accomplish and who they can become. Hearing blessings can cause them to think about their choices.

There is also another meaning of the word blessing: when someone is a blessing to others; when someone bestows good of any kind upon someone. Sara Frankl, an internet friend, was a blessing to many people. Sara was a blessing to me, for she reminded me to always choose joy in all circumstances.

So, in honor of Sara, here is your blessing for this week… Say your child’s name and…

May you take every opportunity to choose joy.

Why do I mention Sara? Over the last few years Sara has suffered from a couple of different diseases which kept her indoors and in constant, intense pain.

Yet Sara chose joy!

For example, Sara has said…

I am in pain, sick, frail, homebound, bedbound, without great possibility or potential in my future.

In all of that, I am whole. I am complete. I am exactly what God made me to be in the exact time He created me to be it.

Despite her circumstances, Sara always said, “Yes” to God. She made a conscious choice to choose to see God always at work in her life. Sara Frankl died on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 surrounded by family and friends. She was 38 years old. She is now pain-free in heaven. Dancing and singing.

I will miss your inspiring words Sara. May I choose to look always for joy. May I be so bold as to offer my words, in hopes of nourishing others on the path of growing their children to be disciples of Christ.


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A Blessing: Support Your Child’s Character

Posted on by Carol Hulbert
The cover of the book, The Blessings of a Skinned Knee

The Wow Moms group (Women of Wonder, Moments of Mission) at FUMC, has just started reading and discussing the book The Blessings of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children by clinical psychologist Dr. Wendy Mogel.

This book chronicles the author’s discovery that her religious roots provided helpful axioms for her doubts and anxieties as a parent. In exploring ancient Jewish texts, including the Talmud and the Torah, she recognized venerable wisdom that could be applied to child-raising situations faced by all parents. She has laid out for us a road map for raising self-reliant, respectful and confident kids.

I have found her book fascinating! There was a lot of meat in chapter one of this book (to which our attention was attuned for this week’s meeting). From Mogel’s story of a return to her Jewish roots…

Something had been stirred in me, but I didn’t know what it could be.

To how we as parents place ourselves in a trap, all in the name of good intentions…

Determined to give their children everything they needed to become ‘winners’ in this highly competitive culture, they missed out on God’s most sacred gift to us: the power and holiness of the present moment and of each child’s individuality.

Quotes from the book.

It was this last point that our discussion focused on: Helping our children realize their God-given, inherent potential. We concluded that recognizing and encouraging our children’s personality, character and temperament, was important. Our leader, Shannan instructed us to take some time to jot down things we notice over the next few weeks. “Every child is so different, and the more we understand who they are, the better we can parent them.”

True words. Might I add to that?

Blessing your child to reinforce their character.

Here are some examples…

  • Is your child naturally exuberant? Give them this blessing: Say their name and… May God lead you to share your enthusiasm for life!
  • Is your child sensitive and quiet? Give them this blessing: Say their name and… God has given you the special job of noticing the good in every situation.
  • Is your child exhibit a “know-it-all” attitude? Give them this blessing: Say their name and… May God lead you to share your knowledge with others.

What other blessings apply to your children? Share your thoughts!


Click on a box if you would like to…
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Other photo from Amazon. (Clicking on this picture will take you to Amazon. I don’t receive any benefit if you buy the book!)

A Blessing for scaredy cats?

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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A cat allows two children to pet him/her

Is the concept of blessing your child, scary?

I can’t do that. My child will think I’m crazy.

What if my child blows off my words?

What if I say the wrong thing?

How about if you think of a blessing as praying for someone? That’s essentially what a blessing is, a personal prayer said out loud that gives your child a sense of being loved and accepted. Try this blessing: Say your child’s name and…

God has made you perfect just the way you are.

Think about what hearing those words will mean to your child!
I guess the cat is out of the bag on this one. (grin)


Click on a box if you would like to…
A check-box Satisfy your curiosity about why you should bless your child.
A check-box View other suggested blessings.


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Cat accepting visitors by Linda Åslund, who licensed this photo on Flickr under Creative Commons License

A Blessing: Seeing God in Laughter

Posted on by Carol Hulbert

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Everyone knows that laughter is good medicine. Laughter is also a gift from God. In the Bible, upon the birth of a son at an impossibly old age Sarah declared: “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6).

Spend time every day laughing with your child(ren); it blesses them with good health and good memories.

After a bellyful of laughter, try out this blessing:

Today may you see God in your laughter and in your joy.

Laughing kids

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Photo credits:
Laughing kids by amslerPIX, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0).