A Thought About Being Grateful
“Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’” Luke 17:17- 18
“Gratitude recognizes that a gift has been given, a favor has been done by someone. There is a gift and a giver. But there is more. Gratitude also calls for a response to that gift. We thank the giver with an expression of appreciation — a handshake, a hug, a note. A gesture of gratitude completes the exchange, closes the circle, lets the love flow back to the giver.” — Don Postema, Space for God.
Have you ever given a gift and been left with a feeling of emptiness, wondering why you felt that way? The quote from above may be the answer you seek. Perhaps it was because there was no “thank you” from the recipient. Maybe you never heard whether or not the gift was appreciated. The circle was unclosed—there was no return feeling of love or gratitude.
I have to admit that there have also been so many times when I have not taken the time to thank the giver of a gift for me. Those who gave me a gift would have likewise felt empty because I didn’t take the time to let them know the gift was appreciated.
In the story of Jesus’ healing the ten lepers, (Luke 17:11–19) the Bible does not record how far they had walked before being healed. However, only one man returned to thank Jesus for the healing. Luke makes special mention of the fact that the one who returned was a Samaritan, a person despised by the Jews (Luke 17:15). Jesus expressed disappointment that the other nine had not thought to give praise to God for their healing. From this, we learn that God desires for us to express our thankfulness to Him for all He does in our lives.
In the song, “Thank you Lord for Your Blessings On Me,” the opening verse states, While the world looks upon me, As I struggle along, They say I've got nothing, but they are so wrong, In my heart I'm rejoicing, How I wish they could see, Thank you, Lord, For your blessing on me! The song continues to mention some of life's blessings we receive. I wonder how different our lives would be if we only received those blessings for which we show gratitude. Would we be like the Israelites in the wilderness who did nothing but grumble, or would we be like the one leper who returned to give thanks to the Lord for healing him? Even though Jesus did not withhold healing from the nine who did not thank Him, He made a point of noting their lack of gratefulness (Luke 17:18).
Don’t withhold giving thanks and showing gratitude until Thanksgiving, but instead, let it be a daily practice. Let others, and Jesus, know that you are appreciative of any and all gifts bestowed upon you, Let your light shine,
“Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’” Luke 17:17- 18
“Gratitude recognizes that a gift has been given, a favor has been done by someone. There is a gift and a giver. But there is more. Gratitude also calls for a response to that gift. We thank the giver with an expression of appreciation — a handshake, a hug, a note. A gesture of gratitude completes the exchange, closes the circle, lets the love flow back to the giver.” — Don Postema, Space for God.
Have you ever given a gift and been left with a feeling of emptiness, wondering why you felt that way? The quote from above may be the answer you seek. Perhaps it was because there was no “thank you” from the recipient. Maybe you never heard whether or not the gift was appreciated. The circle was unclosed—there was no return feeling of love or gratitude.
I have to admit that there have also been so many times when I have not taken the time to thank the giver of a gift for me. Those who gave me a gift would have likewise felt empty because I didn’t take the time to let them know the gift was appreciated.
In the story of Jesus’ healing the ten lepers, (Luke 17:11–19) the Bible does not record how far they had walked before being healed. However, only one man returned to thank Jesus for the healing. Luke makes special mention of the fact that the one who returned was a Samaritan, a person despised by the Jews (Luke 17:15). Jesus expressed disappointment that the other nine had not thought to give praise to God for their healing. From this, we learn that God desires for us to express our thankfulness to Him for all He does in our lives.
In the song, “Thank you Lord for Your Blessings On Me,” the opening verse states, While the world looks upon me, As I struggle along, They say I've got nothing, but they are so wrong, In my heart I'm rejoicing, How I wish they could see, Thank you, Lord, For your blessing on me! The song continues to mention some of life's blessings we receive. I wonder how different our lives would be if we only received those blessings for which we show gratitude. Would we be like the Israelites in the wilderness who did nothing but grumble, or would we be like the one leper who returned to give thanks to the Lord for healing him? Even though Jesus did not withhold healing from the nine who did not thank Him, He made a point of noting their lack of gratefulness (Luke 17:18).
Don’t withhold giving thanks and showing gratitude until Thanksgiving, but instead, let it be a daily practice. Let others, and Jesus, know that you are appreciative of any and all gifts bestowed upon you, Let your light shine,
A Thought About Being Grateful
“Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’” Luke 17:17- 18
“Gratitude recognizes that a gift has been given, a favor has been done by someone. There is a gift and a giver. But there is more. Gratitude also calls for a response to that gift. We thank the giver with an expression of appreciation — a handshake, a hug, a note. A gesture of gratitude completes the exchange, closes the circle, lets the love flow back to the giver.” — Don Postema, Space for God.
Have you ever given a gift and been left with a feeling of emptiness, wondering why you felt that way? The quote from above may be the answer you seek. Perhaps it was because there was no “thank you” from the recipient. Maybe you never heard whether or not the gift was appreciated. The circle was unclosed—there was no return feeling of love or gratitude.
I have to admit that there have also been so many times when I have not taken the time to thank the giver of a gift for me. Those who gave me a gift would have likewise felt empty because I didn’t take the time to let them know the gift was appreciated.
In the story of Jesus’ healing the ten lepers, (Luke 17:11–19) the Bible does not record how far they had walked before being healed. However, only one man returned to thank Jesus for the healing. Luke makes special mention of the fact that the one who returned was a Samaritan, a person despised by the Jews (Luke 17:15). Jesus expressed disappointment that the other nine had not thought to give praise to God for their healing. From this, we learn that God desires for us to express our thankfulness to Him for all He does in our lives.
In the song, “Thank you Lord for Your Blessings On Me,” the opening verse states, While the world looks upon me, As I struggle along, They say I've got nothing, but they are so wrong, In my heart I'm rejoicing, How I wish they could see, Thank you, Lord, For your blessing on me! The song continues to mention some of life's blessings we receive. I wonder how different our lives would be if we only received those blessings for which we show gratitude. Would we be like the Israelites in the wilderness who did nothing but grumble, or would we be like the one leper who returned to give thanks to the Lord for healing him? Even though Jesus did not withhold healing from the nine who did not thank Him, He made a point of noting their lack of gratefulness (Luke 17:18).
Don’t withhold giving thanks and showing gratitude until Thanksgiving, but instead, let it be a daily practice. Let others, and Jesus, know that you are appreciative of any and all gifts bestowed upon you, Let your light shine,
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