Three Little Words

I heard a mother say it yesterday. She was involved with her daughter at the time and it was wonderful to see then interacting. She stood there in her matching summer dress and sandals. A wee-bit of a thing, smiling so broadly, Braided ponytail, and all.

At times like these we all dip into our memories and relive our experience when we had little girls or boys about the same age. We remember asking them this same thing. “What’s the magic word?” And we wait for the right answer. It was and is our time to instill in children what every generation has categorically called good manners. Some children take more time to remember to say “please” on their own. Other get it all figured out that you can go further and faster if you say that word before you are asked.

I can’t remember if it was me or my brother who figured that out first. At any rate, not far behind learning the word please, then along comes the next line. Do you remember, “thank you”? Ah yes, the two words added to the other became, ‘the three little words’. Thinking back, they accomplished much. Not as much as my granddaughter did when she was little. You could hold out your hand full of change and ask what coins she would like. She always picked the pennies. Smart little girl because she figured out that if she took the pennies, she would end up with a lot more money than the dimes because dad would do it over and over just to show what his daughter would do.

It was Sunday when I noticed this smiling little one. Maybe it was because of what had happened at church in the morning that prompted me to ask, “do I say please and thank you to God”? When we are talking to Him, is it part of our conversation to thank Him for all the things in our lives? Or do I just go to Him with my wish lists? Are we a people who never forget our manners? Is it possible that we recognize God for who He is, the King Eternal, and come wanting and going to the only source of power in our lives?

But that is not the totality of being God’s children. Our lives are filled with not only good and great things but also trials and situations. It’s not always easy but it’s not always over the top wonderful either. We live in reality, and not reality tv. And it is in this real, everyday life we realize that God alone comes along side and walks with us. Maybe today, you can turn to Him and say, “Please, Thank You”. After all, in my bible it says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Something to think about.

Rob