Thankfulness

‘Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.’ ( I Thessalonians 5:18)

‘Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.’ ~William Arthur Ward

In Luke chapter 17 of the Bible we read about Jesus healed ten men of leprosy. Only one of them came back to Him, praising God in a loud voice, threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.

The cartoon character, Charlie Brown, gives several suggestions as to why the other nine lepers never returned to Jesus:

First one: waited to see if the cure was real.
Second one: waited to see if it would last.
Third one: said he would see Jesus later.
Fourth one: decided that he had never really had leprosy.
Fifth one: said he would have gotten well anyway.
Sixth one: gave the glory to the priests.
Seventh one: said, “O, well, Jesus didn’t really do anything.”
Eight one: said, “Any rabbi could have done it.”
Nine one: said, “I was already much improved.”

These suggestions speak a lot about our human nature. Think about it, we are not much better than the nine lepers. We often rationalized the blessings and gifts we received without thankfulness. May we remind ourselves to have an attitude of gratitude, not just during this season of the year, but every day! Have a blessed Christmas & New Year!