Think to Thank

 "One of them (the ten lepers), 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." Luke 17: 15, 16

     At the school where I work, students receive a free breakfast. One boy in particular says "thank you" as he selects his food every day, without fail. I was so impressed by the young man's manners that I took him aside and expressed my appreciation for his gratitude. Compare this to the student who, after making his choice, took three steps and threw it in the garbage can, unopened.

    As a mother, I know it takes many reminders to train children to be thankful. For years, "What do you say?" must be prompted each time the child receives something. The first time he/she thanks someone on their own is cause for celebration! What does this tell us? Gratefulness is not a natural response, it's a learned practice. 

    As I listened to people around me this week eagerly discussing their holiday plans, I silently wondered if they thank God? To whom do nonbelievers express their gratitude? Perhaps to each other? 

    From a website, I wrote down these thoughts on gratitude:

• It is the affirmation of goodness we've received, then recognizing that the source of this goodness is outside of ourselves
• It is not an emotion, it's a choice, one we must practice
• Ungratefulness begets malcontent

    When only one of the ten lepers expressed praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, Jesus told him it was his faith that made him well. The man's skin condition was only an outer expression of his much larger problem - his sin condition. Recognizing that the goodness he received was from a source outside of himself was the man's first step toward a life a faith. Any one of those ten men could come down with another ailment, but only faith in Christ was the cure for their eternal sickness. 

    God doesn't require our thanks because He needs affirmation. He loves it when we show gratitude for his graciousness because it cleanses us. This Thanksgiving, throw yourself at the feet of Jesus and pray these words from Psalm 100:

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."