It’s Somewhat About Please and Thank You
Thursday, November 07, 2013 Posted by Debbie Legg
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It’s
not simply that using them is “good manners” and not using them is “rude.” It’s the implication, the motivation behind
them, that is important.
“In
their purest forms, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ signal that this is a request for
a favor, not a demand that a debt be paid.
….They're supposed to be ways of acknowledging that compliance with a
request is something of value for which the speaker is at least grateful if not
indebted--not something the speaker is entitled to or owed.” Jeremy Sherman, PhD
And
so, the inverse would be that by not using “please” and “thank you” we signal a
demand, a payment for something owed.
Hmmm…
Dare
I say that the entitlement mindset we see increasingly in our culture could do
with a healthy dose of humility and gratitude?
Might adding “please” and “thank
you” back into our communication help us acknowledge that the other party is
more than our personal vending machine?
Even
more, where does God fit in all of this?
Do we need a more gracious demeanor in approaching Our Provider, Our
Healer, Our Savior? Granted, we seem fairly good with “Thank You, God,” but when is the last time we asked Him something,
please?
After
all, He owes us absolutely nothing. We
owe Him absolutely every single thing. It can only help to be more aware
of our motivations and attitudes as we approach the Throne of Grace.
Please,
let’s take this opportunity to think not only about what we say, but how and
why we say it. A little gratitude,
expressed by these three little words, can go a long way in growing our hearts
toward God, and each other.
Thank
you.
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