Thirty Days of Thanks – Day 27: Say “Thank You”

Say “thank you.”

I must have said it a thousand times. That and “say please.”

Not long after we teach our children to say “momma” and “daddy,” to wave hello and bye-bye, we teach them to say “thank you.”

To give thanks.

Why? Perhaps it’s because we recognize how fundamental gratitude is to relationship.

We establish relationship. Presence. Then thanks.

Jesus thought saying thank you was important too. The book of Luke (chapter 17, verses 11-19) tells a story of Him healing ten lepers.

And in doing so, giving them back their lives.

Their personhood and all the relationships they were ostracized from . . father, mother, siblings, friends.

Presence and the ability to be in someone else’s. Someone to welcome. “Hello.” And someone to say goodbye to. For just a time, instead of forever.

But one. Only one returned to say “thank you.”

I think he’s the one who was really healed. Not just skin deep. The evidence of a deeper healing was his effort. He came back. His soul had to express. To acknowledge and give back. To give thanks.

And Jesus asked him where the other nine were. Why didn’t they come back to say thanks?

He knew that giving thanks brings things full circle. Brings the giver and the recipient into full relationship. And that was why He came. Relationship.