This book is incredibly helpful in understanding spiritual blessing.

It is practical and gives specific ideas for blessing the people in your lives; not only your children but your parents, family and friends.

You do not have to have any money to do what the book says because blessing is about the heart not about a ceremony or event, even though those are wonderful things to do.

I first read this book in 1992 and as a result had a blessing for my parents on their 45th Wedding Anniversary. My husband and I had a blessing for each of our four children. Then my husband for me on my 50th birthday and my family had an informal blessing for my husband in the hospital 3 months before he died of cancer.

I have leant my worn copy to so many people and finally decided to buy a number of "The Blessing" to give away. This is a life giving book.

I went from reading "A Place Called Blessing" to "The Blessing." And I wasn't disappointed! I highly recommend this book.

Originally written by John Trent and Gary Smalley, the updates in this version were written by John Trent alone. The book's primary purpose is to teach parents how to bless their children, but the concepts apply to all relationships. Readers will learn how to affirm, encourage, and unconditionally love and accept all the people who exist all around them all the time. They'll learn how to offer The Blessing, a concept taken from the story in Genesis of Jacob stealing the firstborn blessing from Esau.

Readers who did not receive The Blessing as children will also learn how to recover from that, so they can move on contentedly and begin to bless others.

The book is divided into four sections: why the blessing is important, what it is, when it doesn't happen, and living it. Also scattered throughout the book are links to websites with video presentations or other information to enhance what's in the book. At the end of the book is an invitation to join The Blessing Challenge.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson Publishers, for sending a complimentary eCopy of this book for my honest review. "The Blessing" is definitely a worth-your-time read!

Nurturing children in a biblical manner is so important. Our pastor did a sermon series based on this book and it made a big impact on our church. We bought the book and recommend it to other families as well. This is a great resource for struggling families, happy families, therapist/counselors working with parents, grandparents, or anyone who touches the lives of youth.

The Blessing is a book that every parent should read!

This is a timeless book, one I give often as a little "gift" to newlyweds, first-time parents, church friends, family, the oppressed/judged/marginalized...anyone in need of a relationship Blessing. The price of this paperback makes it very affordable to do just that! Thank you!