You can never have to many oooos

My daughters and I were riding in the car late last week on our way to town. I was spacing off...going over lists in my head, or perhaps planning where to put my new bedding flowers, or daydreaming about a date with my hubby. Whatever it was, I am sure it was important. The girls were quietly looking out the window, allowing me to reflect on whateveritwas in silence, which is a nice gift sometimes, and suddenly, out of the clear blue, Emma, age 5, says,
"You know, Mom, you can never have too many oooos."
"Huh?" was my oh-so-thoughtful Mommy response.
She continues..."Yea, you know, like the ooo on the end of kangaroo. Or the oooh when you see something neat. You can never have too many of them."

Instantly, whatever gobbledy-gook had been in my head was gone, and I was caught deep in thought about what she had just said. I love it when the simplicity of a child's heart and mind captures the truth about life. God plants the basics in us as children, and we adults go and mess it all up. But she is right.

You can never have too many oooos.

"Oooh, I love that dress you are wearing!" "Oooh, you sure ran fast to second base!" "Oooh, you look handsome tonight!" You can never give too many compliments.

"Oooh, that looks heavy, let me carry it for you." "Oooh, the offering plate looks empty this month, I better give some extra." "Oooh, do you hear the life flight helicopter? We'd better pray for whomever is inside." You can never do too much good.

"Oooh, Lord, what a sunset that is!" "Oooh, Lord, You really saved my butt in this one." "Oooh, Lord, Your ways are so much higher than my ways." You can never praise Him enough.

"Oooh, Lord, I really need you to save my butt in this one." "Oooh, Lord, my friend is really hurting." "Oooh, Lord, this looks like nothing but a big mess to me." You can never pray enough.

Every single day goes by without enough oooh in my life. I am a gold medalist at complaining and comparing (usually only in my thoughts, but we all know that God still hears it) rather than freely giving others compliments. I am world champion at getting so wrapped up in the lists, plans, and daydreams in my own head that I often fail to notice the needs of others around me. I spend so much time caught up in what is "wrong" with my life that I frequently fail to give God the praise He so richly deserves. I can rush through prayer time with the best of them. Anyone else saying, "amen!" to any of that?? (Please say yes.)

The good news is that I serve a God who loves me in my weakness, forgives me in my brokenness, and cherishes me in my imperfection. He takes the tiny little bit of oooh that I offer Him, and magnifiies it 100-fold. He nurtures my children with it. He strenthens me with it. He answers my prayers, even on a day when the best one I may have crafted was "Lord, have you seen my cell phone?" as I rush out the door at 11am. He still loves me when I fail. And He says "oooh" when I desire to serve Him mightily, and He lets me though I don't deserve it.

You can never have too many oooos...
May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in His works--He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. Psalm 104:31-32

You can never have too many oooos...
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8

You can never have too many oooos...
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind had conceived what God has pepared forthose who love Him. 1 Conrinthians 2:9

You can never have too many oooos. Thanks, Emma, I needed the reminder!