Watching the news one evening right after the pandemic broke and I found myself finishing every newscaster’s report with G-d forbid and I wondered when did we ever stop saying G-d Forbid?
Regardless of when we stopped, I’m sure glad we did. (I’ll explain why at the end.)
Especially with all the not such good news being reported. (That was written soon after Covid broke)
It is more vital than ever to use those two incredibly mellowing special words. It is a matter of mental health and public safety. Some might argue that to some extent it is a matter of life and death.
It used to be in our lingo and “slang” and I think that we should bring it back and use it, now more than ever.
G-d forbid is a prayer. It’s reassurance.
If any news is being reported about, G-d forbid, surges in hospitalizations or an impending storm brewing over the Atlantic, ending the presumptive and ‘worst-case-scenario’ report with a ‘G-d forbid’ is a blessing of sorts that may indeed ‘sweeten the judgment’ but definitely ‘blesses the blesser.’
The G-d forbid is like a silent prayer to the One above and is also a nod of reassurance to a person listening that thing will work out, because G-d is good and nothing bad comes from above and G-d will forbid anything bad to happen.
It’s even more important when reporting negative events which are seemingly (more) out of our control is when it’s most appropriate to use those words.
I think reporters when reporting on a possible catastrophe that if happens would require the reporter listing a list of possible consequences to actually report on his made-up list, G-d forbid should say G-d forbid at the end of their assumptive report of the demise that might befall on whomever is listening, G-d forbid.
Saying G-d forbid means you’re being mindful. It’s an act of Kindness on your part and indeed, G-d returns the favor of Kindness with Kindness and will forbid the situation from getting to that point – where G-d forbid was needed to be said and now what becomes necessary to say is Thank G-d.
But some might say what if someone doesn’t believe in G-d, they might find it offensive when a reporter says G-d forbid. Well, let that person tune out if they want, but most people do believe in G-d. Even if they practice different forms of religion, most people have an innate belief in the one unifying and unique G-d. It’s almost like an understanding, which may come to be expressed in one form or another, but it’s a knowledge that we all came from the same place.
Besides, usually atheists like to be considered intellectuals and an atheist shouldn’t be offended by someone expressing a belief that to some is so natural. Just like an atheist can’t see the world with a G-d in it, so too is the opposite on the believer, he cannot fathom a world without G-d in it.
An atheist by dis-believing is not losing anything when someone adds the words, G-d forbid, thank G-d. On the other hand, the believer is continuously losing out on his beloved thank G-d and G-d bless, G-d forbid.
Where to, G-d forbid, place the G-d forbid?
Well, G-d forbid we should ever have to use this phrase, but where to place it within the sentence, depends on the a few things, the context, the length of the sentence and is generally up to the speaker.
It depends. G-d forbid we should ever have to use this phrase, but it depends on the veracity of the paragraph it’s being called into. So, if you decide to re-up and use this phrase, G-d forbid, more often then I thank you and G-d bless you!
The reason why I’m glad we stopped using it, because going into the future, the trajectory of events which will require this phrase to be called into play will become less and less frequent until our kids will not understand this phrase G-d forbid, so for me it’s just a ‘sign of the times’…
*As to the reason why I’m glad we stopped: I’m glad we stopped because it confirms the fact that we are definitely living in the times of the redemption where there will be is no need to ever use that phrase