Every Thanksgiving season, I am reminded of the ten lepers in John’s Gospel. You know these ten, Jesus is on his way to Galilee when they spot him and begin to cry out for a healing. Our compassion filled Jesus grants this request and the ten rush off to present themselves to the priest. They will be announced clean and allowed to return to their families, their faith, and their lives. One stops in the midst of the joy, realizing both the source of the joy and the importance of gratitude, and returns to express both realizations to his newfound Lord. Jesus asks where the other nine have gone, why they did not return to express praise and gratitude.

I am afraid that I am often the other nine. I get so caught up in the goodness of a moment, the greatness of this life, and in that I forget to return to the Source and express the gratitude that is due him.

God, forgive me for those times. Allow me to express gratitude for all that is around me…

Gratitude for a year of birth, for a year of love like no other, for a communion table that is always open and calling to receive and give, for authors like Sara Miles, Eugene Peterson, Kathryn Stockett, Luci Shaw, and Sue Monk Kidd who have challenged me this year, for grace, for the noise machine that calms Blake into sleep, for the Colorado mountains, for the humanity of Jesus, for the holiness of Jesus, for Come Awake retreat, for mentors, for movies like Darius Goes West that remind me to live fully, for dark coffee, for words, for Word, for Aaron Sorkin’s ability to write dialogue, for music that provides the soundtrack to my life including Explosions in the Sky, Johnny Cash, Band of Horses, and Joshua Radin, for great art like Michelangelo’s Statue of David and Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son that enhance our faith, for red grapes, for friendships that allow us authenticity, growth, and laughter, for this church and the staff I get to work with, for Blake’s laugh and mischievous grin, for Lupita’s, for homemade pizza and Better Than Sex cake, for early morning runs, for Madeline L’Engle and Gerard Manley Hopkins, for order out of chaos, and for peace….

There’s a start…..

Today, take time to make a list of all the gifts he has given you in the past year. Tomorrow take time to express gratitude for all this greatness and goodness.

Be the one that returns. Be the one that realizes the source of the goodness, greatness, and healing that we find within our lives. Be the one that says thank you for all you don’t deserve.