Thankfulness

Thankfulness is such a powerful force.  It can change our attitude, associations and even our personal atmosphere. Thankfulness can also open the door of faith to release miracles.  An amazing story is told by Jesus in Luke 17.  

"11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner(Samaritan)?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”  Ingratitude was of such a significance that Jesus brought attention to it.  "Where are the other nine?"  Jesus also highlighted that this thankful one was also a Samaritan.  The other nine were evidently Jews, the chosen ones.  This one was "outside the commonwealth of Israel."  At first they were all ten amazed at their healing and ran to the priest to receive the blessing only he could give, the release back into family and society in general. Yet, as they ran toward the location of the Priest, one paused.  What caused him to pause?  May I suggest that what made him pause in such a positive overpowering moment of anticipation of seeing his family again, was not the outer evidence of divinity upon his body, but the inner sign of divinity working in his heart.  I'm reminded of people at Christmas when receiving gifts.  Some go through them like animals casting each one aside as insignificant, looking for the one that really lights up their eyes.  Then when they find it they rush off absorbed in the gift and forgetting to thank the giver.  

Here is our question today.  Did the leper return to give thanks because he was the only one who thought of it or did he return to give thanks because kindness, consideration and thankfulness was instilled in his character?  I personally believe the latter.  As I am writing this I am reminded of one Christmas morning in particular after my family had a difficult financial year.   As a child I had made all my desires known.  That Christmas morning my gifts were lacking in my eyes.  I displayed my disappointment and I still remember the pain in my Father's eyes over 50 years later.  Yet, that powerful experience served in a different kind of way to teach me the practice of thankfulness.  Of all practices that are refined in our lives thanksgiving from the heart may be the most powerful of all.  Certainly in the story of the 10 lepers Jesus seemed more captivated by it than the miracles themselves.  

Today I am thankful for you.