It may be that the most important element of effective communication is repetition, even while it is the most unappreciated. We tend to arrogantly claim that we only need to hear things once. When a parent repeats an instruction, children roll their eyes. When a boss repeats a familiar command, employees complain that it is superfluous. When a teacher reviews material already taught, students complain they already know the material. We tend to believe we can receive information or commands and never again need a reminder or renewed encouragement.

“The good old days weren’t so good.” That was my grandfather’s response to the impulse to remember the days of old as being better than the present day. Every generation is tempted to allow nostalgia to cover the hardships and brokenness of the past. As a kid, I would listen to the adults talk about how good things used to be and how broken things were becoming. Now I am an adult and often find myself being an enthusiastic participant in similar conversations.

My grandfather used to say that when he was a child, he carried enough water to float a battleship. He grew up in a home that did not have running water, and one of his regular chores was to bring in water for household use. He would say this to communicate how thankful he was for the modern convenience of in-home running water and to encourage me to be thankful for the goodness and convenience of in-home running water. I often imagined what life must have been like for him growing up with chamber pots and an outhouse. I imagined how uncomfortable it must have been on cold and rainy days and how inconvenient and time-consuming taking a bath must have been. But the truth is, I was never able to appreciate household plumbing with as much thanksgiving as my grandfather did.