Example of a Father's Blessing - What to say

After John the Baptist was born, his Father prophesied about him in a pretty spectacular way. Because his father, Zacharias, had been mute for 9+ months, hearing Zacharias speak must have been amazing, and more so because of the prophecies he pronounced. Zacharias' words seem to have the qualities of a blessing of his child.

John the Baptist's birth was obviously special because his family knew he would be prophet and have a specific, special role in his life. However, all children in the church are blessed by a priesthood holder while young (almost always as a baby). I am impressed by the prophesy/blessing given by Zacharias and the influence this likely had on his son. Here's the words from Luke 1:

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to ^aprepare his ways;

77 To give ^aknowledge of salvation unto his people by the^bremission of their sins,

78 Through the ^atender mercy of our God; whereby the^bdayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give ^alight to them that sit in ^bdarkness and in the shadow of ^cdeath, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

I imagine Zacharias parented differently than he would have if he didn't know these things about John. I also imagine that Zacharias thought about how to help these things come true. All children can do special things. If we always kept in mind their potential, we would probably parent differently. Also, we could probably be more powerful in promising blessings to our babies than most of us do. John's blessing/prophecy is powerful and in some ways is an example of how to bless our children.