“One of them, (a man
with leprosy) when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise
God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done.”
Please and thank you were drilled into my
child’s brain right from the get-go. Being passed the salt required a “thank
you”. Wanting the salt meant saying, “please.”
It became habitual…so ingrained that by the time I was an adult, even the dogs were treated with such high regard! Then, of course, I would laugh at myself for doing so.
Was there an understanding as to why this was so necessary? Nope. It was simply one of life’s rules
about how to conduct yourself right along with not picking your nose in public.
(Smile.)
I am thankful for
these early lessons all the same because these two words have remained a
fundamental part of my vocabulary. The difference is I now realize just how
important they are.
They are a gift to give my fellow
humans. Saying please and thank you to them are words that pour worth into their
lives. It’s saying, “I see you and
you have blessed me by doing _________. You have honoured me by answering my
ask.” In a society that finds people feeling more and more disconnected this is
especially important. Maybe a smile, a please and a thank you are the most love
they get all day.
And there is
something reciprocal about such exchanges. Our own smile releases a whack of
good brain chemicals that make us feel good. It’s a win-win situation.
I confess to not
always being so nice. Being busy, distracted, and overwhelmed contributes to me
not seeing the “invisible” people behind the cash register or the coffee
counter. When I have caught myself being this way, I often apologize for my
abruptness. (Saying “sorry” is a whole other post topic.)
The childhood
foundational teaching has become a foundational aspect of my faith. These two
words are an expression of humility and wonder and awe because by saying them, it acknowledges and celebrates the presence of God in my life. Sometimes it’s my heart that does
the speaking all by itself in those moments when feelings of gratitude are so
big it hurts and mere words fail me.
That’s the best kind
of all.
Lastly, these two
words are a huge part of my prayer life. I regularly give thanks for what God
has done but thanking God for something that has not happened is a declaration of what changes I would like to see happen. It confesses an awareness that there are aspects of my life which don’t reflect who I want to be as a
follower of Jesus. Being thankful for what is yet to come unlocks my heart and
opens my soul to letting go and letting in.
These prayers aren’t
demands! They are words of surrender laid out before the Author and Finisher of
my faith. They are expressions of hope and humility because I know God is more than able to work
the changes needed.
And He does, far and
beyond what I could ever have imagined or asked for.
Lord, thank You for
my mom’s utter determination to raise polite children. (Smile.)
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