Family Life

Joel says “Thank you” a lot, sometimes for unusual or unexpected reasons, but always in the proper context. He says it as if you’ve just done him the most wonderful favour, or have just granted his deepest desires. There’s a depth of enthusiasm and satisfaction and assurance in those two words.

For example, at the dinner table:

- “Can I have a cookie?”

- “Only if you finish your dinner with no fuss, Joel.”

- “Thank you Daddy!” [I didn't think I stood any chance of getting a cookie at all. You have shone a light in my otherwise gloomy existence. Thank you Daddy!]

After dinner:

- “Please may I be excused.”

- “Yes, Joel, you may be excused.”

- “Thank you Daddy!” [I was a prisoner in my chair, with no hope of escape. You have granted my eternal freedom to go and play. Thank you Daddy!]

Later:

- “Come play with me Daddy!”

- “No, Joel. It’s time to go to bed. Come to the bathroom to brush your teeth.”

- “Thank you Daddy!” [I love playing more than life itself, so much that I didn't realize how tired I was and how desperately I need to go to bed. Thank you for showing me the better way!]

Sometimes I just don’t understand. Denied extra play time? Have to go to bed? And yet responding with such gratitude? Joel is a normal boy, with the usual amounts of happiness and excitement, and the inevitable disobedience and sulks. But this pervading thankfulness is unusual. I’ve never seen anything like it. It is one of the things I cherish most about each day: to hear Joel say “Thank you.”

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7 (NET)

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 9th, 2007 at 8:57 pm. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.