Um...A "Thank You" Would Be Nice

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
(Luke 17:12-17)

The other night I was working late answering phones and chats on the FamilySearch help line like I do every day.  Things can get pretty busy between school, social activities, and missionary work, so as the day winds down I can tell when it’s time to quit and take a break.  This was just such a time.  I had been answering question after question after question from one of our sweet patrons for over an hour.  It was getting late, I hadn’t eaten dinner, and despite my need for a break I was being both helpful and patient.  (When I am hungry, this is particularly difficult to do.)  Before I finished making my closing statements our chat ended without so much as a thank you.  With a little headache from my recent lack of sleep, I glared at my computer screen, took my headset off, and headed to the kitchen to start making dinner while I grumbled over my patron’s inadequate gratitude for my excellent and voluntary services.

It didn’t take long until I was suddenly struck by the reality of my own ingratitude; most especially towards my Heavenly Father.  My frustration quickly turned to embarrassment as I considered the remarkable similarities between me and my patron. 

I tend to expect material comforts, physical wellness, spiritual strength, familial joys, political stability, educational opportunity, forgiveness, divine guidance, and the list goes on.  Typically I get it all and in abundance; I am one of the most privileged people in the world.  Rarely, if ever, do I express an appropriate degree of gratitude for it.  How could I possibly?

In the Bible, Luke recounts the healing of the ten lepers.  Surely all had faith to be healed by Jesus as they followed his instruction, but nine out of ten failed to return and offer up their praise and gratitude to the Master.  I feel that ratio is an accurate reflection on us.  How often do we plead with the Lord and forget to give thanks? (But how quick we are to turn against Him in anger!)  The one was a Samaritan, not even a part of the chosen covenant people.  Were the other lepers Jews? Were they a part of the covenant? If so I think we see another accurate parallel among the followers of Christ.  I find it easier to have faith that God will give me what I ask, than to be grateful for what He has already given.

We ask and He gives, oftentimes more than we ever even need though we may not always care to admit it.  Because of His deep love for us Heavenly Father wants us to ask and seek for blessings, but He already knows our needs! I’m sure it must bring Him great joy to hear our humble, however inadequate, “thank you.”  And we have much to be thankful for! He has given each of us this beautiful earth and our wonderful bodies to experience mortal challenges and growth and He has given each of us the gift of His perfect Son to help us on our way back home!


And to the grateful hearts He will say as with the leper, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:19).

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