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Where Are the Nine?

"He [the leper that Jesus healed] threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?'"¹

"It seems to be human nature to forget to say, 'Thank you.' Samuel Leibowitz, a brilliant criminal lawyer, saved 78 people from the electric chair; not one thanked him. Art King had the radio program, 'Job Center of the Air.' He supposedly found jobs for 2,500 people, of whom, only ten ever thanked him. An official of the post office, in charge of the Dead Letter Box in Washington, D.C., reported one year that he had received hundreds of letters addressed to 'Santa Claus' asking him to bring many things, but after Christmas, only one letter came to the box thanking Santa Claus for bringing the toys asked for."²

How do I appreciate thee? Let me count the ways!

Whoever the "thees" are in your life and mine, let us take stock and name the ways we have been blessed through their love, their friendship, their support, their encouragement, their help and so on.

And let us not fail to express gratitude when such is due. As William Arthur Ward said, "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." Furthermore, let us be givers, just not takers.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a grateful heart and may I never ever fail to thank You for the innumerable blessings I continually receive from Your hand. Most of all I am and will be forever grateful for Your 'so great salvation' with the gift of sins forgiven and eternal life through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 17:16-18 (NIV).
2. Tony Bland. Cited on www.sermons.com.

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