Father, many things in life are beyond our control. It seems that a couple of those things have hit me at the same time. I pray for patience in the middle of it all and may love overcome my frustration! Amen.
Luke 17:11-19 (<<click here to read the passage)
Rudyard Kipling, who wrote The Jungle Book in 1894, amongst many other things, was one of the few authors who had the opportunity to enjoy his success while he lived.
One time a newspaper reporter came up to him and said, “Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over a hundred dollars a word.” Mr. Kipling raised his eyebrows and said, “Really, I certainly wasn’t aware of that.”
The reporter cynically reached down into his pocket and pulled out a one-hundred-dollar bill and gave it to Kipling and said, “Here’s a hundred-dollar bill, Mr. Kipling. Now, you give me one of your hundred-dollar words.”
Mr. Kipling looked at that hundred-dollar bill for a moment, took it and folded it up and put it in his pocket, and said, “Thanks.”
I think I would agree that the word, and more importantly the attitude of “thanks” should be highly valued.
Of ten lepers who were healed at Jesus’ command only one…returned to express thanks. I appreciate the way the Amplified Bible puts it.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying and praising and honoring God with a loud voice; and he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. vs15-16 (emphasis mine)
It seems that as a society we are very prone to complaining…and we don’t just do it under our breath or in our head. For many, it is a common activity. And often, we gather around and share in a whine-fest, if you will, chasing each other’s tales of woe with tales of our own.
But aren’t we blessed – and not just a little bit, but abundantly? How many of us went to bed last night with empty stomachs? And didn’t we have nice cozy beds to crawl into? And wasn’t there a solid roof over that bed? Folks, we are rich beyond measure in comparison to much of the world.
Oh, we may think about it at Thanksgiving time or maybe around the holidays but for many of us, the things and experiences we have are just taken for granted.
My study Bible* notes say, “…only grateful Christians grow in understanding God’s grace. God does not demand that we thank him, but he is pleased when we do so. And he uses our responsiveness to teach us more about himself.”
Lord Jesus, though You don’t demand my gratitude, may it be more spontaneous when I think of all the many things You do for me every day. For in truth, falling at Your feet and thanking You over and over would fall very short of the love and gratitude You richly deserve. Amen.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Oct 7th, 2020, Wed, 12:59 pm
