What a blessing is and what it is not? I think many of us have a mechanical and perhaps a magical notion of a blessing.  When we bless a person, a house, an automobile, a religious medal, we do not believe we are changing that person, place or thing—as if before the words were spoken that thing was unblessed. Nor do we believe that a blessing prayer changes God—as if before the words were spoken God was unwilling to be gracious or give us peace.  We do not believe that our blessing prayers change God or the person, places or things we bless.  What we believe blessings do is give thanks to God for the goodness that is already present in the person, place or thing. Blessings celebrate what our world is and who we are.