Say "Thanks"

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19

I have always kinda snubbed my nose in the direction of the "other nine". How could they be so ungrateful? How could they not even say "thank you" when they were just given an amazing gift of healing. Walking in their shoes, surely, I would have been the one to come back and say thanks.

They had leprosy after all. An incurable disease that condemned them to life alone. They were outcasts forced away from family and friends. Husbands torn away from wives. Fathers torn away from children. Declared unclean they could no longer even touch the ones they loved. Their family had mourned them as if they were dead. And they might as well had been.

But then...oh, but then they met Jesus! And He changed everything! He gave them their life back...only this time it was even better! Oh, I imagine they could hardly contain themselves as they ran to their loved ones with heart overflowing...with gratitude?

Do you suppose...could it be... just maybe...they weren't ungrateful? Maybe they could simply not wait to touch family and friends they had not had contact with in who knows how long. To hug wives, hold children, kiss away tears of joy! To share the news they are no longer dead! Share the amazing story of the One who gave them their life back!

Maybe, just maybe they were very much like me. So busy enjoying the gift...appreciating the gift...relishing in the gift...even sharing the gift, they didn't have time to say "thank you" to the One who gave them the gift in the first place.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mine was...well, an answer to prayer really. My prayer today is that I never again get too wrapped up in enjoying life that I forget to stop and say "thanks" to the Giver of all good things!