Biblical Last Words: Abraham

Of the patriarchs, Abraham's last recorded words are arguable the longest before he physically died. Genesis opens with his conversation with a servant sent to procure a bride for Isaac. And in this a pattern emerges:
Isaac blessed his sons before he died.
Jacob -- even though these are not his technical last words -- blessed his sons before he died.
Joseph brought his sons to Jacob so they could be blessed.
Abraham arranged for a blessing for his son before he died.
But unlike most of the forefathers, Abraham does not give a verbal blessing -- but a physical and spiritual one. His son was already grown and raised; a wife was the strongest influence Abraham could make on the next generation.
​This vignette -- a less than romantic story of fatherly love and care -- is how the deathbed blessings of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were made possible. And together, these stories prompt us to consider: How do we bless our children and grandchildren?