Baby Goldi banged on her plate with a spoon. She was hungry and I was her personal chef.

We had none of her “go to’s”. No sweet potato. No noodles. No banana yogurt. No Cheerios. No carrots.

I frantically looked through the pantry while Goldi banged and cried.

“Please Lord, help me find something that Goldi will eat.”

Didn’t God want her to eat and grow big and strong?

Please is one of those words that you use when you want to be polite. Sure a proper attitude before God is a must. Who am I to ask in the first place? So many times, on this journey, my please is a way of saying: “Have mercy!”

I found an unopened jar of applesauce. I hesitated. I thought perhaps if she was hungry enough she will eat it even when she hasn’t had it before or gone through that “look at it, then smell it, then feel it, then taste it last”method I knew about from a book I had read.

“Please God, help her to try it and like it.”

I couldn’t help but think of the old Life Cereal commercial.

“Please God, let Goldi be just like Mikey!”

The top of the applesauce jar popped open with one twist.

I poured some into a dish and placed it before Goldi.

“Please God, stop her from throwing it on the floor. “

I spooned up the first taste. Goldi scrunched up her nose.

“Come on Goldi, you have to eat something. “

“Please God, she needs to gain weight. She needs to eat good foods. Please help her to be brave and eat it. “

Yes, the word please is such a polite word. Please pick up your toys. Please hand me that sucker. Please stay off the grass. But in prayer, when you are on this journey, I am not just being polite, I am pleading to a God who can do anything.

Goldi finally opened her mouth and I shoved it in before she could close it.

She reached for more applesauce.

“Thank you Lord! Thank you that she is eating the applesauce!”

Next day I was sure she would eat applesauce with a fox and in a box or in her playhouse with a toy mouse!

“Thank you God!” I have said thank you for things I didn’t want or ask for. But I was told and taught to say it even when if I didn’t mean it. It’s then that thank you are those polite words. But I realize when used in prayer, I got a gift. I got the reward of my ask being granted. It was a million dollar reward. Thank you seems beyond polite. It’s more like joy expressed.

Kid Goldi went through the motions of the bedtime routine, put her head to the pillow, and then closed her eyes.I fell into my pillow. But then I felt a tap on my shoulder.

“My blanket, I can’t find it. ” Goldi looked up at me wringing her hands.

“Please God, help me find her blanket. She’s never slept without it. ”

My eyes were so droopy, I had to feel my way around her bed. When did I last see her pink satin trimmed blanket?

“Please God, help me remember. I can’t remember five minutes ago. Help me remember now. Please I am so tired. “

“My blanket!” Goldi shrieked and cried. “I need it!”

“Please God! Open my eyes to find her blanket.”

I couldn’t feel anything smooth and silky. All I felt were stuffed animal lumps. But then, as I slowly ran my fingers down on lumpy creature, I discovered a soft silky trimmed blanket.

“Bear took it, ” I said handing it to her,

“Goldi snatched the blanket and stroked the satin trim with her fingers. She climbed into bed without a tuck in proving she was intending to sleep and stay asleep.

“Thank you God for finding her pink satin trimmed blanket.”

Thank you. I have said thank you before for “Winnie the Pooh pajamas or a brown dress I didn’t want to wear. I have said thank you for a large sum of money or a high compliment. I don’t want my thank you to run dry. Especially to God who knows what I need, when I need it, and is eager to bless me.

I bribed teenage Goldi into the car, so that we could get a blood test. “I’m scared!” she said. “It’s really going to hurt. They are going to stab me with the needle. I will see my blood!”

“It will be over before you know it. Afterward, maybe you can get a little treat to help get the blood back that went into the tube.”

We reached the lab five minutes before they closed.

“Please God!” I prayed, “Please let them take us!”

We checked in and went right in. It took five minutes even to have her sit down.

“Please Lord,” help the staff to be patient.

Goldi finally sat down.

“I know honey, I know.” the nurse said “My daughter is the same way. She freaks out.”

“See!” I looked at Goldi-“you are not the only one.”

“Please God let it work. Maybe they get what the need.”

“Do you want to look?” the nurse asked as she held the needle inches away from Goldi’s arm.

“Yes, I want to see it! ” Goldi said.

I for one did NOT want to see it I wanted to pass out.

“Please God, please don’t make me look like a fool and pass out. Please help her not to shake.”

The cotton swab and bandage tape was on the instant the needle left Goldi’s arm.

“Where should we go to get something to eat?” Goldi asked holding her pricked arm with her other hand.

“You choose.” I said.

“Thank you God, that it is all done. Thank you for the kind nurse.” I whispered.

Please God help me to rely on you for all things. There are little things and big things on this journey. So God, I come before you because I am not You. I can’t handle either one without Your help. Thank you God for listening and answering.

My please and thank you prayers are never ending part of this long journey. They are not prayers that are meant to keep score with God though He does say “Ask me”. I include please because He is God and He can only give good things. Say “thank you”. because He is nothing but good. Anything He gives is a blessing. So I keep offering please and thank you prayers. For His sake. Amen.