We read in Parashat Vayishlach of the warm reunion between Yaakov and Esav, during which Esav declines the lavish gifts that Yaakov had previously sent him. Yaakov, however, insistently asks that Esav accept his gift. He implores, "Please take my blessing that has been brought to you, for God has been gracious to me, and I have everything" (33:11).
Why does Yaakov refer to his gift as birkhati, "my blessing"? In what sense does the term berakha denote a gift?
Rashi explains that the word berakha often refers to a greeting that people extend upon meeting one another. For example, a bit later in Sefer Bereishit (47:10) we read in the context of Yaakov's meeting with Pharaoh, "Va-yevarekh Yaakov et Pharaoh." By extension, the term berakha is occasionally used in reference to a gift presented on the occasion of meeting another person. Such was the gift that Yaakov presented to his brother, on the occasion of their reunion after so many years, and hence he refers to this gift with the term birkhati.
The Ramban explains differently, claiming that gifts are referred to as berakha because "he sends from that with which God has blessed him." Since a person gives as a gift that which he has received as a "blessing" from the Almighty, the term berakha is occasionally used to denote a gift.
Rav Simcha Bunim Sofer (son of the Ketav Sofer), in his Sha'arei Simcha, suggests a slightly different approach (though which clearly has roots in the Ramban's explanation), associating Yaakov's use of the term berakha with his subsequent remark: "for God has been gracious to me, and I have everything." Yaakov seeks to persuade Esav to accept his gift on the basis of his having "everything," the fact that he has been given far more than his basic necessities. The righteous look upon their wealth as a berakha, a blessing from God, who has granted them more than what they require for their basic sustenance. Yaakov intentionally refers to his gift as berakha so as to emphasize the point that he has already been given more than he needs, that the cattle and sheep he sent Esav were but a berakha, luxury items that Yaakov possessed beyond his basic needs of life.
People by nature tend to never feel content with what they possess. Few people are capable of honestly declaring, as Yaakov did, "yesh li kol" – "I have everything" – or of acknowledging that everything they have is a berakha – a "blessing" beyond what they need. In fact, in this very exchange, Esav declines Yaakov's gift by claiming, "Yesh li rav" – "I have much." Esav acknowledges that he has "much," whereas Yaakov recognizes that he possesses "everything." We are to train ourselves to look upon what we have with the perspective of Yaakov, and feel grateful for the "blessings" that God has bestowed upon us, and acknowledge the fact that He has truly given us "everything."