Let’s play a game. OK? Guess which two words it turns out I say considerably more often than I realized?
One of my teammates is precious two-and-a-half year old Nathan and we have a special bond (though you might not sense that in the following interactions).
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Amy: Wow, this is an awesome piece of cake!
Nathan (snaps): Only GOD is awesome.
Amy: Gosh, you’re right!
Nathan, with great disgust: You shouldn’t say gosh.
Amy: Right again, little buddy.
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An example of God’s awesomeness
Amy (to another adult): Gosh that would be awesome!
Nathan (barks): Only GOD is awesome and you shouldn’t say gosh.
Amy: Oh Nathan, you’re right God is awesome and I shouldn’t be saying that other word.
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Amy (you’re beginning to wonder how slow I am): Have an awesome time.
Nathan (from the other side of the room): Only GOD is awesome!
Amy (to self): Well your hearing seems to be pretty awesome too.
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It only took one meal next to a two-year-old to make the point that my vocabulary is not awesome, nor am I very tuned in to the words that come out of my mouth. Out of the mouths of babes, or two-year-olds or donkeys, comes truth.
Who (or what) has an Awesome God been using to refine you recently?
That’s an awesome article Amy.
And so’s your comment :)
Well played Connie
Interesting–I’ve been trying to break myself of the ‘awesome’ word in instances that aren’t God-related. Living/working on a college campus it is easy to use the language of those around me….your post renews my commitment to change. =)
Nathan salutes you :)
I’ve had a similar conversation with Nathan, I can’t seem to get it through my head either. I’ve told my students not to use awesome in their writing simply because it’s so over used it had very little meaning anymore. But Nathan’s comments made me think about the intended meaning of the word. I looked up awe. I found the following definition: an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like. I guess by those standards the bread his mother gave me wasn’t quite awesome. :0) It did make some make some delicious french toast though! Truly only our God is awesome.
I guess we all could benefit from working on our vocabulary.
:) … true! And I love how God uses such a wide range of ways to remind us :) (thankfully many are gentle and mildly humorous!)
yes especially those people with super hearing :)
mmm … it’s hard to stay ahead of a little companion like that, huh?
;-}
i’m a new arrival to your blog in recent days, Amy …
Oh my word yes! :) … it really seemed ridiculous how I kept stepping right up to the plate and pitching it to him! And welcome Linda!! :)
OH…this brought a smile today :) Thanks, Amy (and Nathan).
Loved this! Just wanted to pass on a book title that might be new to you–Heart for Freedom by Chai Ling. She was a leader in the TAM protests in ’89 and in later years became a Christian. As a fellow ex-pat, I always enjoy getting a peek into another person/culture’s thoughts and this book does that.