Give Thanks
In Luke 17 we read of Jesus traveling to Jerusalem where he is approached by 10 lepers who want to be healed. Jesus' instructions are for them to go present themselves to the priests and as they leave to do so they are healed. What an amazing sight that must have been. As Jesus moved on, one leper returned to say “Thank you”. Ten were healed, however, only one returned to convey their thankfulness. How often do we find ourselves in situations such as this? Yes, we are busy, yes, life is complicated, the excuses are endless. How often do we forget to THANK YOU for all we have and those around us? How often do we forget to thank God?
Max Lucado is a preacher in San Antonio, Texas and prolific Christian author. He shares about living as an American in Brazil. One day, as he was walking along the street on his way to the University to teach a class, he felt a tug on his pants leg. Turning around, he saw a little boy about 5 or 6 years old with dark beady eyes and a dirty little face. The little boy looked up at the big American and said, "Bread, Sir." He was a little beggar boy and Lucado said, "There are always little beggar boys in the streets of Brazil. Usually, I turn away from them because there are so many, and you can't feed them all. But there was something so compelling about this little boy that I couldn't turn away. So, taking his hand, I said, `Come with me' and I took him into a coffee shop." Max told the owner, "I'll have a cup of coffee and give the boy a piece of pastry...whatever he wants." Since the coffee counter was at the other end of the store, Max walked on and got a cup of coffee, forgetting about the little boy because beggar boys usually get the bread and then run back out into the street and disappear. But this one didn't. After he got his pastry, he went over to the big American and just stood there until Lucado felt his staring eyes. Lucado said, "I turned and looked at him. Standing up, his eyes just about hit my belt buckle. Then slowly his eyes came up until they met mine. The little boy, holding his pastry in one hand, looked up and said, 'Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.'" Lucado said, "I was so touched by the boy's thanks that I would have bought him the store. I sat there for another 30 minutes, late for my class, just thinking about a little beggar boy who came back and said, `Thank you.'"
This lad had an attitude of thankfulness, and it was expressed. If we have this attitude, it will show. We will be expressive; we will be praising God; we will have joy in our hearts. Let your attitude of thankfulness show today and every day. Thanks be to God!