a word from a 21-month old on saying thank you

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Elianna is 21 months old.  

She’s cute.

With lots of personality.  

Whenever I do something for her, like get her some food or pick her up or find her a toy, she always says, “Thanks Mom.”  Pretty sweet.  Actually it’s more like, “Hanks Mahn.”  Think Jamaican sounding.  But I know what she means.  

She also gives wonderful hugs and sings a killer B-i-b-l-e.  But I digress.

The funniest thing about her “Thanks Mom,” or “Hanks Mahn,” if you will, is that she says it to everyone who does something for her.  Doesn’t matter who.  They get a “Hanks Mahn.”  Even though they obviously are not her mom.  Who knows how long this will last.  But for now, it’s a reminder of greater realities.

Because I think she’s hit upon something beautifully true of the Christian life.  Namely, that whenever someone does something for us, one of our responses should be, “Thanks Lord.”  And sometimes, we should even look that person right in the eye and say, “Thanks Lord.  Thank you Lord for my friend, Lynette, whom you have gifted to serve you in ways that I truly appreciate.”

Isn’t that what Paul did in his many letters?  He was frequently giving thanks to God for people.  The church in Philippi had done so much for him, financially and otherwise.  And he tells them,

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel for the first day until now.” 

Not that we cease to tell people direct thank-you’s.  Not at all.  

But wouldn’t it be encouraging to hear someone thank God instead of you at some point.  I think it would give me a greater sense of purpose in the Lord; an encouragement that I am His and am partaking in the glorious work He has for His children.

And sometimes it’s hard to feel like fixing food, or picking up toys, or wiping off the counter for the umteenth time this morning, or even teaching verses and disciplining with love, is a “bigger purpose” sort of thing to be thanked for.  But I’m hoping it is, and that my labor in the Lord for my little ones is not in vain.

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Filed under body of Christ, everyday, family, kiddos

Tags: Elianna, thank you