What Do You Say?

It was a class assignment,
A writing sample please,
Many prompts were given,
To help me write with ease.

What did you do all summer?
What do you want to be?
What person do you want to meet?
What places will you see?

The prompts were very boring,
Creativity laid aside.
The challenge just to sit and write,
Blank paper; thoughts were tried.

So hard to reach those feelings,
So hard to put in words,
So many thoughts inside my head,
Though some a bit absurd.

If I was a bird, where would I fly?
Now that’s worth a try,
Who would I be, if I was someone else?
Not me, myself, or I.

None of them seemed to satisfy,
None of them were enough,
What I thought would be so easy,
Was really rather tough.

Then I remembered the classic prompt,
All mothers and fathers do,
When a gift is received or kindness is done,
When someone is nice to you.

What do you say? is always asked,
A way to help remind,
Bring to remembrance important things,
Like silver that’s been refined.

What do you say to a kindness?
What do you say to a friend?
What do you say for a gift you received?
Possibilities without end.

I thought about the classic line,
And realized it’s a gift.
A way to sort through everyday.
A way to stop and sift.

Until we think about the things,
That we are thankful for,
We go about our days in greed,
Always wanting more.

What do you say? makes us pause a while,
It makes us stop and think,
We begin a list too long to count,
Have it all and the kitchen sink.

A thankful list that causes us,
To stop and take a breath,
To be grateful for so many things,
To know how much we’re blessed.

For getting up each morning,
For the place to lay our head,
For the things we have and the work we do,
For our daily bread.

For our precious family,
That knows us all too well,
That love us unconditionally,
Though they have tales to tell.

For our health that is so priceless,
For our wealth though it is slim,
For the fought-for-freedoms,
Go to worship, sing a hymn.

For raindrop music on the roof,
For snowflakes on our tongue,
For sunrises and sunsets,
For songs that we have sung.

For the life we take for granted,
For the peace that fills our days,
For the many opportunities,
For the One who gets our praise.

For the God who made us,
For the Word He breathed,
For the Son who died for us,
The One we have believed.

What do you say? the perfect prompt,
To list the reasons true,
To take the time, to begin the day,
Oh Lord, how we love You!

________________________________________________________________________

Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him, and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

What category are you?
What category am I?

Are we the one who came back to thank Jesus?
Or are we the other nine?

What do you say? is the prompt we hear parents say to their children.
I used to think it was an annoying question.
Why do parents have to prompt their child to thank others?
Because on our own, we never would!

On our own, we feel entitled.
We feel like we deserve the good thing that was given.
We do NOT deserve!
We are NOT entitled!

That we receive any good gift is God’s grace extended to us.

So go ahead.
Consider the prompt.

What do you say?

The perfect question to get us thinking.
The perfect question to get us thanking.

2 responses to “What Do You Say?”

1. Gina,

   I have always had so much to be grateful for but in the months since losing my job have felt my spirits sag more than I care to admit. I am a prayerful person but recently added something I am ashamed I didn’t do sooner. The moment I open my eyes in the morning, my very first thought has become “Thank you for the blessing of another day. Please guide me to treat it like the gift that it is.” It has made a real difference. I fully recognize every day is a gift. Shame on me for not grasping this sooner. Your post today resonated with me as a reminder that my thankfulness should always be my first priority. Thank YOU.

   Reply

   • Karen,
     No matter how old or young we are, thankfulness is an area where we all can improve. An attitude of gratitude touches us and the people around us. I have learned that as well. I am thankful for YOU friend. Have a wonderful day of Thanksgiving with your family.
     Gina

     Reply