… is my typical email sign off.
Email closings have fallen on hard times. And well they should. Most closing salutations are bland or unfit.
“Sincerely” will do little convince the reader if your letter has been insincere. “Take care” is a subtle way of saying “Please don’t reply to this email because I’m busy.” “Peace out” and “Keep it real.” Not sure what exactly these are intended to communicate. “See you later” is a bland cliché. “Cheers” is more robust and gladdening to the heart. “Warmly” is cozy, especially in the winter.
But I use the term “Blessings!”, and yes, with an !.
Why?
Primarily because “Blessings” has a bloody heritage. The term bless traces its family history back to the ancient term blōdisōian, a pagan word meaning to consecrate one by covering them in sacrificial blood.
At some point in history the word became a threat and was used in fights when someone promised to break the other’s nose so as to cause them to bleed all over themselves. Thankfully the threatening overtone was purged from the English over the years. (The fightin’ French still use “blesser” for “one who wounds.”)
But in the Christian sense—at least in the way I use it—“Blessings!” is my preferred way of wishing others experience the divine riches that flow from being covered and consecrated and cleansed by the blood of Christ.
So there you have it.
Blessings!
Tony
Tony Reinke 
I like your reasons for using Blessings, Tony.
I use Kuyper’s “For the King” a lot. It reminds me of the main person our conversation should be serving.
Thanks for this post. I’m reminded that every word I say should be directed towards truthfulness and helpfulness. I think it’s time to re-evaluate my reasons for “Take care.”
Thanks, Tony!
I’ve used:
Mizpah,
Brian
for many years. It’s worked and it gives people a second thought. Many have asked what Mizpah means and I get to guide them to Genesis 31:49.
I’m not saying it’s perfect… but it works.
At the same time, repeatedly reading “blessings” at the end of the e-mail can, potentially, dull a reader to the true value of blessings. Perhaps this would be only the fault of this reader, but I find that reading the word or hearing the word blessings or phrases such as “have a blessed time,” tend to turn the word blessing/blessed into a synonym for “good” or “sincerely” or whatever other polite phrase would normally take the word’s place in the phrase or sentence, to the point where it sounds as trite and cliche as any of the other words listed above. I tend to prefer signing off with just my name and putting any comments which I’d like the reader to take away in a sentence in the e-mail proper.
Not trying to be controversial, just raise another side of the issue.
Really now, is there anything more genuine and artless than this:
“It would be superfluous to say more on the subject, which I leave to your own consideration; but I cannot let slip this opportunity of declaring that I am, with the most inviolable esteem and attachment, dear Sir/Madam, your affectionate, obliged, humble servant”
I think that says it all, every time.
Adieu, Adieu. Remember me.
TB
I have used Blessings! many times on Twitter and email. I find, like you, that is conveys a very positive message. After all, we should be building up the body of Christ and letting others know that we sincerely want them to experience that which we have already have tasted and enjoyed.
–El…Yes and Blessings! to you.
Very funny T-Bomb!
Unashamedly borrowed this one… As you absolutely surrender to His will…May you be absolutely overwhelmed by His love,
I often use “Take care brother…” (or the plural) from Hebrews 3:12-13. At my local church, this passage has been brought up many times in many contexts over the years and the phrase takes on great value.
Blessings is just perfect for nearly every occasion. If one is offended by a religious greeting or salutation, then too bad. As the old saying goes, “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all the people all the time.” That’s my guiding light — after God, of course!
[…] This morning I stumbled upon someone who, likewise, uses “blessings” as his sign-off (athough he adds an “!” at the end of his- I guess he REALLY wants his friends to experience blessings) and he explained why on his blog. I found it really interesting and I thought I’d share it with you in the hopes that you might think through how you communicate with others and, perhaps, how you might do it in a way that conveys your desire for the Lord’s blessings to be upon them and His will done in their lives. I found this here. […]