Once upon a time, there was a young boy who lived with his father in a small house. Almost every evening he would hear his father say: “Poor me. I will die a sad old man because you are a fool and will never amount to anything.”

But the boy was not a fool, in fact, he showed a lot of wisdom for his age, and he had a generous heart. One day, after helping a widow stack wood, he was about to go home, when she stopped him, and placed her hand on his head, while speaking these words. “You are a reflection of the face of God. The world is brighter for the joy you have given me this day. I bless you my child.”

The boy stepped back, amazed: “What was that?”

“Why, it was a blessing my child, Haven’t you ever received a blessing before?”

Back at home he asked his father: “Papa? Why do you curse me? Why don’t you bless me instead?”

“Bless you? It is against my nature. Poor me. I will die a sad old man because you are a fool and will never amount to anything.”

“Oh” said the boy, and he felt sorry for his father. That night he decided that no matter how uncomfortable it felt, he would become the kind of person who blessed others. And so he did.

The boy grew to be a man, left his father’s house, and built a home for himself. He had a family of his own. He was still ‘haunted by the curses’ of his father, but he decided to bless. Almost every evening, he would call one of his children to him, lay his hand upon their head and speak these words:

“You are a reflection of the face of God. The world is brighter for the joy you give me this day. I bless you my child.”

One evening, there was a knock on the front door, and as he had raised his children to do, they welcomed in a blind-beggar, and gave him some food to eat. The man walked in and immediately recognized it was his own father, but he chose not to reveal his identity. Instead, he listened to the old man speak. The old man talked about how he had lost his eyesight, and how he’d been forced to beg in a world where life was hard. Then one of the boys spoke up: “Grandfather! You’re welcome to stay here with us!”

“But I have no money to pay you.” said the old man.

“Oh, we don’t need any money; all we ask is that as long as you stay here, you speak only blessings. – What’s the matter?”

“It…it’s against my nature to bless.”

“Grandfather, I can tell by your hands that you have worked hard your whole life. So, begging must be against your nature as well, but see, it has brought you here to us.”

The old man couldn’t argue this point, so he agreed to stay, but it was weeks before he spoke a word – it was so against his nature to bless. And when he finally did, you could hardly hear him: “What’s that Grandfather?”

“I said, bless you for taking an old man in from the cold. I wish my son had turned out like you, but he was a fool and…”

“Ah! Grandfather, remember speak only blessings.”

“Well, I wish my son had turned out like you! Bless you!”

This wasn’t bad for a first blessing. And a week later, he spoke another one and it was a little smoother. Then he began to bless every day — in fact, many times in a day. You could say that blessing became… second nature to him. The more he blessed, the more he smiled. The more he smiled the more his heart softened. And the more his heart softened, the more joy he began to experience; a different kind of joy than he had known before.

They lived happily for years, until one winter the old man fell ill, and was near death. As his breathing grew labored, his son sat on his bedside and asked: “Grandfather, is there anything I can get for you?”

“No one can bring me what I most need at this hour.”

“Please Grandfather, anything! What would you like?”

“I should like to see my own son once more to give him my blessing. As he was growing, I gave him only curses. I told him it was against my nature to bless. And, as you can see, I have learned to bless too late…”

His son leaned closer and whispered: “Papa! Papa it’s me, your son… I am here. It is not too late. God has seen fit to bring us together in these last years. It’s not too late! I’m here… I’m here!” And they embraced. A moment later, the old man straightened up, stretched out a trembling hand, laid it upon his son’s head, and spoke these words:

“You are a reflection of the face of God. Though I cannot see you with my eyes, I see you with my heart and the mercy you have shown me these past years is like a brilliant light, dispelling all shadows as I pass from time into eternity. I will die a happy old man, because I have learned to bless and so…my son… I… bless you.”

With these words, his hand fell back down to his chest and he died with a beautiful smile on his face. Just then the wind became very strong outside and he got up to close the shutter, as he heard an ancient voice: “Eternity shines brighter for the joy you bring me this day. I bless you my child.”

Then the wind died down and everything became peaceful in the countryside and in the heart of the young man. – Author unknown –

The way a parent interacts with their children can/will create the child’s image for the rest of their lives. It’s their legacy that they will carry in their heart forever. A curse can ‘sometimes’ become a blessing as abuse and evil can be turned around by some to become the opposite. But most times, it will create a heavy heart that will lead only to pain and destruction, both internally then externally  into the world.

What do you want/wish to be carried in the hearts and lives of those you love, curses or blessings?…

This is my first Father’s Day without my Daddy…. but I have felt his energy around me allot lately… Happy Father’s Day!!!