As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, ""Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'' When He saw them, He said to them, "" Go and show yourselves to the priests.'' And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, ""Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine where are they? "" Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?'' And He said to him, ""Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.'' Luke 17:13-19Amazing isn’t it? Does this story remind you of anything? Read that passage again. Do you notice anything? Only one person came back and thanked Christ. Notice what Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well”. What about the other nine? They were cleansed but notice what the passage says. He was a Samaritan. Samaritans were a mixed breed of people. The Jewish community considered them low lives and minorities. They were not a pure race and yet he came and thanked Christ. Not only was his physical dilemma healed but also his faith healed him emotionally.
Colossians 2:6-7. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” One phrase stuck in my mind like being stuck in the mud. “Overflowing with thankfulness." It began to repeat itself over and over in my mind. It’s almost like singing a tune that’s stuck in your head from hearing it earlier in the day. Overflowing in some translations brings the mental picture of the Thanksgiving spilling out an abundant harvest blessing. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." What is in my heart? Complaining? Selfishness? Pride? -- or Thanksgiving?”
Thanksgiving is an outward giving of myself and it blesses God the Father while my complaining points only back to me and feeds my pride and dissatisfaction. Thanksgiving towards God and man fits the Great Commandment like a glove, to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. What better instrument than thankfulness to express love? Thanksgiving Day has always been a time of people and families coming together.
When you gather together for the holiday of Thanksgiving be thankful. Some do not have enough to eat. Some do not have houses. Some do not have families. The next time you take a bite of turkey, ask yourself this question: Am I being a turkey for not thanking others for what they have done for me? Life is too short! It will gobble your time away if you don’t take time to roost and to think about the blessings you have encountered.
God, Thank you for my wonderful friend, playmate, lover, and soul mate Tanya. Thank you for my wonderful children, Amber, Jon, Krista and Daniel. Thank you for my adopted mom and dad Jim and Wanda Crownover in Lubbock, Texas. Thank you for my grandmothers, Granny and Mama. Thank you for bringing me through tough times. What a life Father. It is a wonderful life. Much to be thankful. I can't wait to hug you! Amen.
