I don’t know how it works, but to ‘count your many blessings’ and ‘name them one by one’ not only promotes a spirit of gratitude, but it also fosters a spirit of humility. Fortunately, we have at least one season of the year where we tend to emphasize ‘thank you’ more than ‘gimme gimme,’ Thanksgiving. So in the spirit of this season, Thanksgiving, may I share a story with you from the life of the Master?

One day while He was passing through a village, He was met by ten men afflicted by leprosy. From afar off they pleaded for His healing mercy. Interestingly enough, He did not approach them or they Him. He simply said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”

Now let me mention about leprosy. Leprosy was a dread disease. Is was literally a living death. The afflicted not only rotted and died one painful degree at a time, but the torment was added to by banishment from family, friends, and civilized society. The only companion that a leper could have were [was] other lepers. There could hardly be a more miserable way to live or die.

Well, from the Savior’s command, the ten journeyed towards the priest to be judged. As they went, they were miraculously healed! Now, nine of them, Jews, continued on where Jesus had sent them, but one of them turned around, and ran all the way back to the Savior, and fell on his face before the Lord giving Him much thanks. The man was a Samaritan, not even of Jesus’ race or religion.

Now, in a way, you and I are like those lepers – spiritually. We come into a wicked fallen world and contract spiritual diseases that leave us, if we’re untreated, sick, suffering, lonely, and destined to die. But there is One to whom our pitiful appeals from afar do not go unheeded. Mercifully the Savior speaks, and sends us on our way. And as we journey toward our judgment, we too are healed from a living death. We live again; we are given a new life.

Many of you know exactly of what I speak. You have been healed. And this week your families will gather around you in love, while the love of God fills your soul. I promise you that your Thanksgiving will be a sweeter holiday if you will, like that Samaritan, take the time to turn back, fall before Him, and with a heart full of thanks remember what this season is for.