But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus said, “Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?”    Luke 17:15-18 (HCSB)
Next week, we Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. Last night I went to a worship service to celebrate and give God thanks for an inner-city ministry that has been serving God’s children for 14 years. They feed 150 families with boxes (not plates) of food every week. They help out with utility bills in a time when most non-profits are decreasing their utility assistance. This ministry also provides after-school tutuoring and mentors. The number of people who came last night would have fit in my living room and we all support and encourage each other. No recipients came.
Questions to ask myself:
Have I thanked God for anything yet today? As I was reading a news story the other day I was struck that when I go to sleep every night, I have no guarantee that I am going to wake up the next morning. Undetected medical illness, criminal incidents, natural events like lightening strikes and tornadoes could all occur during the night denying my anticipated wake-up call. So when I wake-up every morning, do I thank God that it was His plan that I am here another day?
Have I sent someone a “thank you†note this week? There are so many people that God uses to bless me in any given week. Take five minutes and think about yesterday. Who spoke something that encouraged me or made me smile or made me feel better than I did two minutes before? Did I thank God for that person? Is it someone I know? Could I send a card or text or leave them a note on Facebook? Something???
Have I made an extra effort to give thanks? I spend a fair amount of time and energy on preparing meals when my children and grandchildren are visiting. It is definitely one of the ways that I show my family how much I love them. Do I prepare and sweat – put forth that amount of effort — to show my Heavenly Father how much I love Him? Do I make the time? Is “God-time†my “priority timeâ€? Or does Jesus get a “drive-thru†thanks?
Just like I do not want rocks crying out in worship because I am not worshiping (Luke 19:40), I do not want to be counted with those nine lepers who did not “bother†to give their Healer thanks. It is not about ritual or what any person thinks. It is about the condition of my heart. Is my heart tender and humble? May I give God all the glory for what He has done, is doing, and will do in my life?
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.    Psalm 103: 1-4 (NLT)
