Be the One!

"One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him." Luke 17:15-16 (NIV)

Our Lessons in Luke study continued last week in Luke 17. In this passage, Jesus is resolutely on his way toward Jerusalem where the cross and crucifixion await him. Along the way, Jesus encounters a group of ten lepers who meet him and beg for mercy. The lepers received so much more than Jesus' mercy. They received physical healing and restoration to their families, neighbors, and church communities. Only one of the ten lepers returned to Jesus to give thanks for his healing. Only he didn't just say, "Thanks!" The grateful leper fell at Jesus' feet, thanked, and worshipped him. Jesus then asks a chilling question, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?"

Author Ellen Vaughn in her book Radical Gratitude writes an entire chapter entitled "Be the one!" 

"Be the one who thanks Jesus. Let others go where they may. You be the one who is grateful....Cultivating a grateful heart is not just an add-on nicety, a civil tip of the hat to God as we steamroll through our day. A posture of purposeful, perpetual thanks to God is absolutely central to Christian character. It gives glory to Him....It is the hallmark of heaven. It does not exist in hell. A grateful heart is a gift of grace."

I've had an up close look at grace and gratitude recently. Since Daniel and Olivia's bridal shower four weeks ago, I've quit counting the number of texts, emails, phone calls, and people who have stopped me to say, "I got Daniel's thank you note and ...."  it is a keeper.... it was so personal...it was such a quick response....such a fine young man." Two of the note recipients even brought their thank you notes, not to read, but for me to keep! At first I thought perhaps the unusual response was because the groom was writing the notes for the couple's gifts. But as I read Daniel's notes, I realized that he didn't just thank each person for the wedding gift given. He actually thanked the Giver for their influence, impact, or input into his life. The result wasn't just a note checked off an etiquette "to do" list. The result brought joy to the initial Gift Giver. 

Much like Ann Voskamp's Euchristeo principle: God gives gifts of grace; we give thanks; the result is joy.

Thanksgiving is now less than three weeks away. For the next three weeks, let's Be the One who gives thanks, not only to God, but to those who touch our lives in so many ways. Perhaps a teacher, neighbor, first responder, cashier, coach, pastor, friend, or family member deserve a timely "Thank you!" Perhaps it's a veteran who served our country or the caregiver who extends kindness to our child or elderly parent who can be blessed by a grateful heart and encouraging word. As we practice Being the One, our thanksgiving truly becomes thanks-living. Ellen Vaughn writes, "Truly grateful people can't be stopped. They bubble and overflow, refreshing others. Their habitual gratitude serves as a springboard to give a reason for the buoyant hope bounding within them. They attract those who are stuck in the cares of this world and woo them to the eternal God."

Wherever we are today, let's "Be the One!"