9. Someone from Yerushalayim had a severe disease for which the doctors couldn't find a cure. So he decided to go to Bnei Brak to receive a brachah for refuah sheleimah from the Chazon Ish zt'l. The trip was long in those days (several buses) and costly. He was poor, so he had to work for a few days until he saved up enough money for the trip.
The Chazon Ish asked him, "How much did the trip here cost?" When he heard the amount, he asked, "Did you ever give a fifth of that amount to your parents? The Torah says that honoring parents is mesugal for longevity. It is better to honor your parents and be guaranteed to be cured than to spend a lot of money to come to me. Who says that my tefillos will help?" (Maaseh Ish vol.7 p.98).
It is a special merit to receive a brachah from one's parents. The Seporno (Bereishis 32:1) writes, "The Torah tells us that Lavan blessed his daughters, so that we should know that the brachos of a father to his children, which is certainly with a whole heart, will definitely take effect..." Therefore, instead of asking others for a brachah, go to your father and mother and ask them to bless you. If the brachos of Lavan HaArami took effect because he blessed with a whole heart, certainly the brachos of ehrlicher parents will be very effective.
