The Greatness of Gratitude 

    

“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.” —Luke 17:15 

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when ten lepers approached him—standing at a distance, as the law commanded and calling out to him: “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 

When Jesus saw them, he said to them, “Go; show yourselves to the priests,” and as they journeyed they were healed. 

One of them, when he realized he was clean, came back, threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Luke adds, “He was a Samaritan”—an outlier.) “Where are the other nine?” Jesus asked.

Good question…

In the busyness of life, we can forget to give thanks. Someone has done something for us—given a gift, performed a task, delivered a timely sermon, given us a word of counsel or comfort, shown love in some other way. We fail to say "Thanks."

Has someone been kind to you this week? Why not give that friend a call, send a text or an e-mail, or—heavens to murgatroyd—an old fashioned thank–you note as our mothers taught us to do.

After all, “Love has good manners” (1 Corinthians 13:5).

David Roper