by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com.
Train up a child…
Seven Words that could Change the World
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone in the world had good manners and an attitude of humility? There are seven words that could create a humble, repentant, and thankful attitude. They are words that every child should learn to use intuitively. They are words that would do away with rudeness and self-centeredness. They are “excuse me,” “I’m sorry,” “please,” and “thank you”.
To say “excuse me” and “I’m sorry” in a meaningful way requires an attitude of repentance. It requires an individual to put the other person’s feelings before one’s own feelings. It also creates within a child an attitude of caution in the use of words or actions that may be offensive to another. It requires giving up one’s own desires for the benefit of those in the immediate vicinity.
The word “please”, when said in a meaningful way, requires an attitude of humility. Rather than feeling above a person to demand something for self, an individual must lower self to a position of “if you think I am worthy, I request a favor of you.” The very act is a demonstration that the person saying the word considers him/herself in a lower position than the person to whom the request is being given. It is a “magic word” that causes the person being addressed to be more apt to give the favor than if it were demanded.
Obviously, the words “thank you” express appreciation when said in a meaningful way. As we observe children who are required to say these two words, we often see them pause just a bit before they are spoken. In this time of pause, a child is forced to realize that something is owed to the person doing the favor. As the child realizes this fact, he/she also realizes, although perhaps unaware of it, that their enjoyment of the favor is dependant on the other person. In this respect, humility is fostered in the same way that saying “please” fosters humility.
It is so easy to teach children to say these seven words, yet parents often forget to do so. If all children were taught to say these words, they would grow up with better attitudes and everyone would get along with each other. People who are humble do not put themselves above others. People who appreciate what they get are not people who demand more and more of others. People who appreciate what they have are not constantly trying to get more at the expense of others. People who are humble do not put others down.
Using the seven words named are simply a matter of good manners. We know that the basis of all good manners is kindness and consideration of others. It is such a simple and easy thing to teach children to use these words and mean them. Wouldn’t it be nice if parents, teachers, grandparents, and other adults in positions of influence would help to change our world by doing so?