"Say the magic words!" my parents would say. Whether it's please, or thank you, as a child you wonder why it's so important. Parents have always taught us that it's important to give thanks even to the little things.
Why is that?
Did you know that the words "thank you" are actually the two most powerful words you'd ever say? Because I didn't fully acknowledge it until recently during my personal development as a born-again Christian. I mostly said "thank you" about the things I felt were necessary. When a waiter or waitress gave me my order, I gave thanks. When the cashier gives me my change, I would give thanks. When I got what I received for Christmas, I give thanks.
But what about the little things?
I didn't think about it until recently. Working as a paraprofessional (an assistant to a special education teacher), I learned that many of the students probably haven't heard the words "thank you" often enough. Whether they haven't heard it enough at home or at school is a mystery, but whatever the reason, I believe it is our job as parents, teachers, and teaching assistants to give thanks more often to students, especially those with special needs.
Before or after Jesus performed a miracle, he would always give thanks. My favorite moment was when he fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish; not without thanking the lord before performing this overwhelming miracle. As a result, in spite of the little food they had, twelve baskets were filled and five thousand people had satisfied stomachs. Although it wasn't stated how much food each individual of the five thousand ate, it can be assumed that it wasn't entirely much, and yet they didn't leave without empty stomachs.
You see, even though there wasn't much food in the basket, Jesus still gave thanks. He gave thanks to very little of what was left in the basket.
That's why I suggest that it is important that students need more than just praise for their hard work, even if they fail as a result. They should at least be given thanks for doing the best they can.
I have been assigned as a one-on-one for a nonverbal student with autism. Every time I ask him to perform his duties, he would just do it. For quite some time, I questioned myself as to why there has only been slow improvement. I pray to God almost every night, sometimes asking why my student hasn't made a major improvement as of yet. That was until I started setting up his lunch, and thanking the Lord for him (since he couldn't talk) that he has received a wonderful lunch, as well as satisfaction for his stomach.
That's when it hit me. That's when I realized he probably hasn't heard the words "thank you" very often. To me, that was basically God's answer to my prayers.
Since then, I have been thanking my student not only for the big things, but the little things as well. I thank him for taking small bites of his food, throwing his garbage in the trash, completing his tasks, and even for walking to and from his locker to pick up his things or put them away. I thank him for anything I ask him to do. The more I tell him "thank you," the more hopeful I am that a miracle will eventually occur in his life, just like the miracle of the five loaves and two fish almost two-thousand years ago.
It's very odd because it's easier for most people to feel as though people aren't doing enough for them than it is to thank one-another for their hard work. For me, it's getting easier. It's never too late to give thanks, just as long as you are aware that it's important to give thanks sooner than later. Every religion can agree that giving thanks is one of the most powerful things you can do.
As I said before, give thanks to the little things. Give thanks for the little food you have in your refrigerator. Give thanks to the little money you have left in your bank account. Give thanks for the little group of friends you have that support you no matter what. All of this is important.
Do you think we should give thanks to the little things? Feel free to comment below for your opinion. In the meantime, thank you to the small number of readers I have that are following this blog. I hope you give thanks yourselves as well.
Why is that?
Did you know that the words "thank you" are actually the two most powerful words you'd ever say? Because I didn't fully acknowledge it until recently during my personal development as a born-again Christian. I mostly said "thank you" about the things I felt were necessary. When a waiter or waitress gave me my order, I gave thanks. When the cashier gives me my change, I would give thanks. When I got what I received for Christmas, I give thanks.
But what about the little things?
I didn't think about it until recently. Working as a paraprofessional (an assistant to a special education teacher), I learned that many of the students probably haven't heard the words "thank you" often enough. Whether they haven't heard it enough at home or at school is a mystery, but whatever the reason, I believe it is our job as parents, teachers, and teaching assistants to give thanks more often to students, especially those with special needs.
Before or after Jesus performed a miracle, he would always give thanks. My favorite moment was when he fed the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish; not without thanking the lord before performing this overwhelming miracle. As a result, in spite of the little food they had, twelve baskets were filled and five thousand people had satisfied stomachs. Although it wasn't stated how much food each individual of the five thousand ate, it can be assumed that it wasn't entirely much, and yet they didn't leave without empty stomachs.
You see, even though there wasn't much food in the basket, Jesus still gave thanks. He gave thanks to very little of what was left in the basket.
That's why I suggest that it is important that students need more than just praise for their hard work, even if they fail as a result. They should at least be given thanks for doing the best they can.
I have been assigned as a one-on-one for a nonverbal student with autism. Every time I ask him to perform his duties, he would just do it. For quite some time, I questioned myself as to why there has only been slow improvement. I pray to God almost every night, sometimes asking why my student hasn't made a major improvement as of yet. That was until I started setting up his lunch, and thanking the Lord for him (since he couldn't talk) that he has received a wonderful lunch, as well as satisfaction for his stomach.
That's when it hit me. That's when I realized he probably hasn't heard the words "thank you" very often. To me, that was basically God's answer to my prayers.
Since then, I have been thanking my student not only for the big things, but the little things as well. I thank him for taking small bites of his food, throwing his garbage in the trash, completing his tasks, and even for walking to and from his locker to pick up his things or put them away. I thank him for anything I ask him to do. The more I tell him "thank you," the more hopeful I am that a miracle will eventually occur in his life, just like the miracle of the five loaves and two fish almost two-thousand years ago.
It's very odd because it's easier for most people to feel as though people aren't doing enough for them than it is to thank one-another for their hard work. For me, it's getting easier. It's never too late to give thanks, just as long as you are aware that it's important to give thanks sooner than later. Every religion can agree that giving thanks is one of the most powerful things you can do.
As I said before, give thanks to the little things. Give thanks for the little food you have in your refrigerator. Give thanks to the little money you have left in your bank account. Give thanks for the little group of friends you have that support you no matter what. All of this is important.
Do you think we should give thanks to the little things? Feel free to comment below for your opinion. In the meantime, thank you to the small number of readers I have that are following this blog. I hope you give thanks yourselves as well.
Comments
Post a Comment