Perhaps the second-most often said phrase (following "No. Because I said so.") in a parent-of-toddlers life is:"What do you say?"
The kids ask for something and as we give them what they asked for we attach, "What do you say?"
We see someone else give the kids something and we immediately throw in, "What do you say?"
Usually, it is not that our kids are unthankful, it is just they forget to say "Thank you." We all want to be good parents who have good kids that use good manners. So, for the first 5 to 30 years of our children's lives, we subtly remind them to be thankful and to vocalize that thankfulness.
Earlier today, after about the thirteenth "What do you say?" given to my kids, I got to thinking about it. We all could use someone following us around whispering this subtle reminder in our ear.
It's not that we aren't thankful...we just forget to vocalize it sometimes (or a lot of times).
Psalm 107: 31 says, "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. And for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
Ephesians 5:2o gently reminds us that we should be: "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
And Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
As I was thinking about these thoughts, it hit me that Thanksgiving is just around the corner....this is the "time of year" that people give thanks. This is the one month every year that we actually have churches, pastors, retail stores, commercials, family members and hundreds of other sources actually saying to us, "What do you say?"
As we move into this holiday season and are focusing on giving thanks, may we all make it a part of our lifestyle to continually vocalize our thankfulness throughout the year...even if no one follows us around and asks, "What do you say?"
Let's start here: what are you thankful for?
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