Cottage Charm Part 2 -Please And Thank You-

Please and Thank You

  I suppose that this is a good place to begin. The use of the word please is from the 14th century. It means to give pleasure or satisfy. So it would have been - may it please you to close the door. Sound funny? Maybe, but today as in the 14th century it is a show of good manners.

Related Post: Cottage Charm Part 3 - Excuse Me 

So if you are asking for something say please. If you need a favor from a friend or want to borrow something from your mom what is the word, yes, please.

We, child and adult alike need to remember not to simply demand give me this or hand me that, but make your request sweetened with "Please," and if offered something "Yes please," or "No thank you,"  is also a beautiful reply. (Although in the south this would be yes sir or mam for those polite souls.)

The next is "Thank you," Thank you fly's in the face of this "entitlement generation" and makes us stop and at least for a moment feel gratitude toward another. A well said thank you can change the morning of a busy waitress, make a hectic day feel worth it to a harried teacher or co-worker and warm the heart of a tired parent. Use thank you and you teach your children to use it because you can never go wrong with a thankful heart. Just remember, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.


Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

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