"The Blessing"

I have been given a complimentary copy of this book by BookSneeze.com in return for this review.  I have in no way been paid for this review and the thoughts and opinions expressed in it are exclusively my own. 

The Blessing, Giving The Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance is a handbook for the rearing of emotionally well-fed children published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.  This book was written by John Trent, PH.D. and Gary Smalley, who are both writers of note in the Christian genre.  Each of us have deep emotional needs that are either fulfilled or negated by the important people in our lives.  The wounds that we sustain as a result of not being emotionally fed carve out our experiences as adults and affect the way in which we relate to our own children and others.  Don't despair, if in your life you have not had these needs met, God has the healing balm that your soul longs for. "The Blessing" offers a roadmap to this healing.

The authors state that one effect of the lack of blessing on the human psyche is the formation of a "seeker" personality, "Seekers are people who are always searching for intimacy but are seldom able to tolerate it.  These are the people who feel tremendous fulfillment in the thrill of courtship but may have difficulty sustaining a relationship of any kind, including marriage" (Trent, Smalley 2011, 189).  The authors use accounts of  people's lives from the Bible, as well as, case studies to illustrate the importance of the receiving and giving of "The Blessing" to our well being.  This book is well written and a valuable resource to anyone who is interested in raising emotionally healthy children and healing their own past hurts.  Each chapter has insightful questions and internet resources to delve further into the topics.  The Blessing Challenge has been set up in conjunction with Focus on the Family and StrongFamilies.com.  They are calling for 1,000 churches to choose a Sunday in August 2011 to highlight "The Blessing," Starter kits are availible that include sample sermons and power point slides.  Their website http://www.theblessing.com/  gives access to these resources for individuals, small group leaders and churches.   

God has healing for us; although, it is a choice that we must consciously make.  Deuteronomy 30:19 declares, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life or death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, and your descendants"(NASB).  Choose life, it is God's will for you to live and be emotionally healthy and fruitful.  We cast the seeds of our thoughts and attitudes on our children and others as we live, let us propigate Godly seedlings.  I pray that you are truly blessed and healed as you read this book.
Rev. Patti Harrison