Sharing a Blessing in Teaching

Do you know what it means by giving/receiving a "Blessing"? This was a new concept to me when I heard this phrase a few years ago, but I have since come to understand the importance of its meaning. What is a blessing? It's approval, it's unconditional love, it's showing someone that you do not necessarily approve of their actions, but you approve of them as a human. It's the human factor. It's failing and knowing that no matter what, there are people in your corner. It's love. As a teacher, have you received a blessing lately? Have you given it?  If not, may I encourage you to seek out and find the answers to just what a blessing is all about and apply its wisdom?

bless·ing; noun: approval that allows or helps you to do something : help and approval from God : something that helps you or brings happiness

My Blessing

Last summer, my mother passed away, and while she was a very good person, she was never particularly affectionate in general, and I grew up wanting to feel loved so very badly, yet I never really did. On the last days of her life, as she struggled for air as a tumor pressed on her wind pipe, she managed to get out the words, "I love, love, love, love you." I knew the point she was trying to make, and I appeased her by affirming that I knew that she loved me, but inside I was still quite confused. One part of my head knew she was making up for what she knew she had fallen short in...giving me a blessing...telling me she loved me. But the other part of my head was spinning in mass confusion...what did she mean, she loved me? I guess I knew she did, but it was strange to hear.

As a Mother

As a mother, I love my children unconditionally. I don't always approve of what they do, or the choices that they make (even though they usually make good ones), but I love them no matter what. That unconditional love affirmed verbally and physically is also what we call a blessing. Perhaps because of what I felt I missed in my life, I became the total opposite of my mother. I gave love and affirmation (a blessing) to them constantly (despite my strict motherly characteristics). I let them know that I am in their corner and that no matter what, they are important to me and a blessing to me in every way imaginable.

As a Teacher/Director

As a the director for a Summer Theatre Academy that I have taught now for the last seven years, I've seen it grow and blossom into an amazingly popular program. This year we went from sixty students to ninety-plus. We had a choice to make. We either turn away students or open up another session. Turning away students in my mind, was not an option! So, open another session we did. I have often dedicated hundreds of hours towards this endeavor over the last many years, and the reason I do what I do is because I think of how this program has changed lives!  I think to myself, "What if I would've had a program like this when I was a child?" Turn kids away? No. I can't. Because it matters too much and because as long as I still have strength in my body to do this program, I will continue doing it; it's my blessing that I give to these kids. It matters.

Why & How to Give a Blessing?

It is a controversial subject that most people term as too much praise, or false praise so many people disagree that a blessing should be given at all, but I greatly disagree!  Recently I directed an adult production at our local theatre that was a very large undertaking. We had thirty-three cast members and a dozen more crew members; organization and communication were essential. I let them know what they did wrong, but I also let them know what they did right. One night we had a much needed, very good rehearsal. It was that glimmer of light that you always look for when opening night is closing in...that glimmer of light that says, "Hey, we've got a show here!"  So, that night I sent out my nightly email praising them on a great rehearsal, and to my surprise the next day they sat on their laurels, so to speak. It was awful. No one was hitting their queues, there was very little energy and it lacked the quality that we needed for an amazing show. Someone came to me afterwards and said, "It's your fault, you shouldn't have praised us so much."  Was it really?  Well, maybe it was. The next time I gave my blessings, I made sure I chose my words more carefully, but I was not about to stop giving the blessing to get the cast to do what I wanted them to do, and you shouldn't do that with your children or your students either. A blessing is not undeserved praise, but it is praise given when deserved and encouragement given even if you feel it is not deserved. It may need to be choicely given, but given it must be!

bless·ing; noun: approval that allows or helps you to do something : help and approval from God : something that helps you or brings happiness

As a teacher, we all know that there are opportunities to give blessings to our students. As a spouse, parent, a human, it's essential to give a blessing to many people in our lives. It is not always an easy thing for anyone to do. If it were, people would be applying it's vast power all over the place. No, it can be a difficult thing, so start off slow. Start with one student, one teacher, one friend and before you know it, you've changed the world! Blessing others is getting along with unruly co-workers and never giving up on a student, it's liking people because they are a child of God's, not because you approve of their actions. A blessing is a powerful thing, so when you use it, expect great changes to take place all around you!