For Aiden’s 6th birthday this week, we got him a “Magic Set.” It had a set of rings, a deck of cards, a magic box where the picture disappears and reappears, all kinds of stuff, and of course, a magician’s wand. He absolutely loved the magic box because that was the trick that he picked up on first. When Papaw showed him how to do it, he made up a “magic phrase – presto chango.” Aiden kept doing the magic trick, but everytime, he’d look at me and say, “Gammy – what’s the magic words?” Finally, I told him that he was the magician – he needed to make up words to use that he could remember. “Presto chango” were PaPaw’s words. Next thing I know, he is saying “abra-cad-a-bra” and hitting that box with his magic wand – and it worked! It was “magic!”
This got me to thinking how there are some “magic words.” One of the first ones that came to mind is the one that we use with little ones when they ask for something. We say, “What do you say?” and the magic word is “please.” “Please,” is not a common word in our vocabulary anymore, is it? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “please” is “used as a function word to express politeness or emphasis in a request; archaic – to have the kindness.” Oh my, even the dictionary recognizes that the word “please” has become archaic in our society. “Please” has become synonymous with the idea that we’re begging for something – which we don’t like to do. We now believe that we deserve whatever it is that we want. We don’t have to humble ourselves to say “please.” What a shame!
Besides using “please” as an adverb when asking for a favor of some kind, “please” is also used as a verb – to give pleasure is to “please’ someone. Our goal in this life should be to please God so that we can live with Him in the life hereafter. We know “that without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” (I John 3:22) Are you living your life in such a way that is “pleasing” to God?
Oh, what a magic word “please” is! Try it today! Simply blessed, Courtney