The best-selling classic that helps children thrive today and experience a special future tomorrow. Now revised, updated, and enhanced for a new generation!Children of every age long for the gift of "e;the blessing"e; - the unconditional love and approval that come from a healthy relationship with their parents. This life-changing gift, essential for instilling a deep sense of self-worth and unshakable emotional well-being, contains five essential elements: meaningful touch, a spoken message, attaching high value, picturing a special future, and an active commitment.Offering solid, practical advice and a fresh perspective on making this gift a bigger part of our families, The Blessing powerfully communicates these biblically based elements as necessary to prepare children for positive future relationships, including their relationship with a loving God.But what if we've missed out on the blessing in our own lives? The book includes hope for "e;reversing the curse"e; and helps readers find blessing in situations of divorce, death, desertion, adoption, and blended families. New to this updated edition are practical ideas, questions, exercises, and links for online resources - plus practical advice for planning a blessing event for a child, preparing a written keepsake blessing, and living out the blessing every day of our lives.