Love Completely: Thanking Those Around You March 4, 2010
March 4, 2010 · Print This Article
Love Completely:
Thanking Those Around You
March 4, 2010
One Month to Live
30 days to a no-regrets Life
by Kerry and Chris Shook.
Principle 1: Live Passionately, Living each day as if it were your last.
Principle 2: Love Completely, showing others love that transcends and transforms.
Principle 3: Learn Humbly, growing through your problems and pain
Principle 4: Leave Boldly, Creating a legacy that will impact generations
Day 14, March 4, 2010—Thanking Those Around You
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” –Melody Beattie
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when or hearts are conscious of our treasures.”–Thornton Wilder
It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests. “They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Luke 17:11-18 Message
“We talk about gratitude a lot in our culture but find it difficult to practice. The consumer mind-set instilled by media and advertising, combined with our human tendency to compare, leaves us coming up short. We’re told—and often believe–that what we have isn’t enough. We’re conditioned to automatically accept that the next electronic gadget, the next pair of designer shoes, the next tropical vacation, or the next romantic relationship will fulfill us. But of course material goods, exciting experiences, and even other people can’t quench the spiritual thirst in our lives. Only God can slake our deepest thirst with His living water.”
When we are thankful, we can become content and filled with God’s peace.
When was the last time you remember stopping to savor a rich moment? What were the circumstances—vacation, holiday with family? What is preventing you from noticing more of these moments?
Second Chances
In Jesus’ day the first sign of leprosy was a death sentence. You were forced to leave home, family, and friends. You lived outside the city and were not allowed to be within fifty yards of people without the disease. If you crossed that barrier you were stoned to death.
Imagine never being touched again, never having a hug, your hand held, a pat on the back. That is what the 10 men in Luke 17 lived with day after day. Then they encountered Jesus.
Their obedience to go to the priest was their test of faith. The healing happened as they obeyed Jesus. They experienced a resurrection. They were restored back to life. They received a second chance for life. They couldn’t wait to get back to their families and loved ones. In fact all went on to celebrate life but one; who returned to Jesus and offer his thanks?
Three Sizes
Gratitude has the power to change us completely. The one leper who returned was healed physically, but also spiritually. Gratitude heals us spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
The last time you found yourself against a rock and a hard place, did you plead for God’s help? “God, I’ll do anything, just help me this one time, and I’m yours for the rest of my life.” If God provided in the way you wanted, did you give thanks?
Ten men received a gift that day, but only one unwrapped it. Ten people received life that day, but only one realized there was more to his life than his time on earth. Gratitude has the power expand our capacity to enjoy life.
On most days are you part of the nine or the one who returned to God? How often do you thank those around you for what they contribute to your life? Who would you want to thank today if you only had one month to live?
One in Ten
One in ten, not very good odds. It’s probable that 90% of the people in the world today never stop to thank God for the blessings in their lives, never savor the richness of life. Sometimes were in that 90% and other times were in the 10%, with our eyes wide open, savoring life to the fullest, with grateful hearts.
In this season of Lent, may we take the time to thank God for life and the new life we receive each day through Jesus. May we take time to thank those in our lives who make this life abundant and joyful.
