What we say to others and what is said to us either in the distant past, recent past or future, has a chance to affect the person to which the words have been said. The biblical concept of “blessing” means to speak well of someone. Our words of affirmation and blessing can have a large influence on people for the good. People need words of blessing, no doubt. They need to be forgiven for past wrongs and they need to know of God’s love for them and us. Keeping that in mind gives us a guide that we can, and should, verbally affirm and bless others.