One of the most often mentioned sermons from the last few months was one in which we talked about the work of Heinz Kohut ( a psychologist who worked and wrote in the 1950’s and 1960’s) and his belief that the ‘blessing’ of a child was an essential component of a healthy identity.
Kohut named three parts of a blessing, which we then transposed to God’s blessing on Jesus.
1) Kohut says that from very early on, a child needs their facial expressions and their babbling mirrored by someone else; it is a way they know they are being seen and heard. In other words: I SEE YOU.
2) Kohut says that a child needs several people in their life who will acknowledge and honour the possibilities and potential within them. In other words: I SEE THE POTENTIAL AND POWER OF GOD WITHIN YOU.
3) And most importantly, Kohut says, each child needs to feel that there is a place in this world where they are accepted and where they belong. In other words: YOU BELONG TO ME.
Even today – especially today – the church needs to be a place where people can hear and believe that blessing on their own life and then be able to pass it along to others. Right now, there are so very many people around you that need to hear that blessing. Well, at First Christian we know we are to both speak and do love towards ourselves and others each day of our lives, in gratitude to God’s amazing mercy and grace and in obedience to our calling as disciples of Jesus. Today, and every day, know this:
YOU ARE SEEN. YOU HAVE THE POWER OF GOD WITHIN YOU TO DO GREAT THINGS. YOU BELONG TO GOD, AND YOU ARE LOVED.
Kohut named three parts of a blessing, which we then transposed to God’s blessing on Jesus.
1) Kohut says that from very early on, a child needs their facial expressions and their babbling mirrored by someone else; it is a way they know they are being seen and heard. In other words: I SEE YOU.
2) Kohut says that a child needs several people in their life who will acknowledge and honour the possibilities and potential within them. In other words: I SEE THE POTENTIAL AND POWER OF GOD WITHIN YOU.
3) And most importantly, Kohut says, each child needs to feel that there is a place in this world where they are accepted and where they belong. In other words: YOU BELONG TO ME.
Even today – especially today – the church needs to be a place where people can hear and believe that blessing on their own life and then be able to pass it along to others. Right now, there are so very many people around you that need to hear that blessing. Well, at First Christian we know we are to both speak and do love towards ourselves and others each day of our lives, in gratitude to God’s amazing mercy and grace and in obedience to our calling as disciples of Jesus. Today, and every day, know this:
YOU ARE SEEN. YOU HAVE THE POWER OF GOD WITHIN YOU TO DO GREAT THINGS. YOU BELONG TO GOD, AND YOU ARE LOVED.
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