Be Good

"Be good" was a typical send-off to my boys. What I really meant was: be kind, courteous, respectful and mind your manners. The older-me, of course, better understands"good" is relative; and, actually has little to do with yes ma'am, please, thank you, etc. The Hebrew word "good" stems from the verb "be" which is particularly interesting because, rather than actual behavior, it refers to an existing state of being pleasant, delightful, glad, joyful, beneficial and right. Of God, the psalmist wrote "You are good and You do good." (Psalm 119:68). You see, because God IS Good, God DOES Good. In contrast, goodness is not man's natural state [of being]. Scripture tells us man's heart is [by default] deceitful and sick (Jeremiah 17:9); therefore, we pray as David did, "Create in me a clean heart ... renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Make no mistake, this Mama is very grateful for well-mannered and well-behaved boys-now-men. Most pleasing to The Father are Believers who do good from a heart that is good. Bottom line: be good!