Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17)
Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to tell Him, “thank you.” Only one.
Yesterday, we celebrated. We shared time with family. We ate a lot (too much, often). We greeted others with love and excitement. And, of course, we expressed thanksgiving.
But, today’s another day.
Maybe you remain off work today, but it’s still another day.
It’s a day of moving back toward taking too many things for granted after a single day of thanksgiving.
Why is it that we can spend a day in gratitude but then fail to really think much about thanksgiving for another year? Here are a few reasons to consider:
- Maybe we wouldn’t have thought much about thanksgiving this year, either, if there weren’t a holiday called “Thanksgiving Day.” That’s just being honest as I start this list, and, frankly, I’m speaking to myself first. Thanksgiving Day slows us down and pushes us to think (at least briefly) about gratitude. It doesn’t always transform our hearts toward thanksgiving.
- We don’t often realize just how blessed we really are. Spend a few days among impoverished people in our communities, around our nation, or among the nations of the world, and you’ll realize much about God’s goodness to us. We take much for granted.
- We’ll get right back to work today (or Monday, at the latest), striving hard to earn what we can.And, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that focus. We do need to work hard. It’s just that we sometimes think we’ve earned on our own all that we have—and we just keep striving for more rather than being grateful for what we have.
- We’ve learned to be most thankful for the big, unexpected, seemingly miraculous things in our lives, with too little gratitude for the day-to-day blessings of God on us. We’re here because of God. I can write this post, and you can read it, because of God. For those who do have these things, we have food, clothing, and shelter because of God. We just forget to thank God for these daily “little things.”
- We’re too much like the nine healed lepers who never said “thanks” for the blessing and too little like the one who returned in praise and gratitude. We receive the daily blessings and then get on our busy way. There’s much to do, especially at this time of year. Year-end taxes are due. Final reports await. An even bigger holiday filled with presents and “stuff” is just weeks away. Who has time for intentional, focused, reflective thanksgiving amid this busyness?
Perhaps that level of gratitude will have to wait until next Thanksgiving. . . .
I hope not, for all of us—beginning with me.