Some thoughts about Gratitude...
Christmas is sweet! I mean come on, family and food everywhere, football on TV, a chill in the air, lights and music, warm apple cider, cocoa, coffee. What an awesome time of year. Oh and who can forget the presents. It is so cool every year watching my kids open their gifts. I remember watching Rayna her first Christmas. She had no clue what was going on (she was only like 2 months old). The next year, we placed her in front of the gifts and she kind of just drooled on them and played with the boxes. The next few years were hilarious! I mean she knew how to open them on her own. She knew which gifts were hers. In a matter of moments the gifts were all torn open and the floor would be covered in wrapping paper and boxes. After she was done, she would disappear into her room to play with her new toys, only coming out for help with batteries or directions. Two Christmas' ago I noticed a new change. Her brother Silas had now gotten old enough to get crazy with his gifts, and next to him was a drooling baby named Josie who was playing with her boxes. Rayna spent time helping her brother and sister. When she finally got to her presents you could see that she wouldn't just rip them apart like a animal, she would take her time, enjoying the moments with the family. After she would open a gift, instead of moving on to the next one at a rapid pace she would look up from the gift into the eyes of the giver and say thank you, many times getting up to embrace me or mama for the gift. After all was said and done, instead of running to her room to play, she would spend the rest of the day with us in the kitchen or hanging out watching football, just being with us. As she has matured Rayna has grown to realize that the gift is merely an expression of love from somebody. The relationship, the love, is the actual prize, not what fills the boxes on Christmas Day. I was reminded of this story when reading Luke 17. Ten Lepers are healed by Jesus and only one returns to give thanks. The others are not heard from again. The one who returns is a Samaritan. (a half-breed in the eyes of many). He got it. The gift of healing was amazing, but the love and relationship behind the healing was most important. Many people experience the healing of Jesus and view it as a get out of hell free card. Never to return and spend time praising him and laying at his feet. Many take the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers and enjoy the benefits of no guilt, shame, true Freedom!!, but they enjoy it independent from building a relationship with Christ. It's like they run to their rooms and play until the battery runs out and then look for the next thing to make them feel good, to entertain or satisfy. The gift Jesus offers is amazing, but it is only a spark compared to the all consuming fire that He is.
Read Luke 17:11-19
Who do you most connect with in the story?
Are you one of the 10 who approach Jesus in faith? Have you ever asked for Jesus to have mercy on you?
Are you one of the nine that has been healed but has never returned to live your life at his feet?
Are you the one who has returned and has seen passed the gift and found your purpose in the Giver?
Journal your thoughts, email or respond.
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