EquippedMama

In the dark, I heard my youngest cry out. Normally a good sleeper, his cries startled me, and when I went into his room his breathing was irregular, raspy and labored.

Crossing the house with my little one in tow, I brought him to my husband and for a long while we listened to the baby breathe. In quiet voices, we debated a trip to the emergency room. Silently, I prayed, “God, let him be okay.”

It was a long night, but the new day came, and my son was markedly improved. We went about our day, I took the kids to their activities, sliding back into the normal go-go rhythm that characterizes our lives.

That evening, chauffeuring home from swim practice, I thought about the night before. I had been so worried the night before. Had I remembered to say thank you?

Jesus’ ministry was filled with people who needed him, but so often their gratitude is not recorded. One such instance is found in Luke 17 when Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, the Bible records that as he was still between Samaria and Galilee,

¹² As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; ¹³ and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” ¹⁴ When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. ¹⁵ Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, ¹⁶ and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? ¹⁸ Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:12-19

Jesus took pity on ten men who were suffering one of the most horrible ways to die. Leprosy was a slow, degrading death as the loss of nerve sensation resulted in damaged fingers and toes and the gradual loss of body parts. Because leprosy is so contagious, lepers were not allowed to live in the community but were banished to a life of exile from their friends and family. This was the bleak fate of those 10 men who sought Christ’s mercy. They were doomed to death and they had no hope. But when Christ showed mercy on them, their lives were transformed.

They were healed.

Suddenly, their lives were restored. Their bodies were restored. They had a future and hope. And what was the response to their healing? They forgot. They never stopped to thank Jesus for healing them. They just got busy with the next thing. This was the response of 9 of the 10 men. One man, however, returned to Christ and fell at his feet in gratitude.

In his mercy, Christ’s healing of the 10 was not dependent upon their response. He did not hold their health hostage because of their ingratitude. However, the one man who returned to give thanks seemed to receive far more than physical healing. Perhaps his response was because he truly understood who Christ is. Jesus’ affirmation was clear: “Your faith has made you well.” (v.19).

God gives us so many good gifts; many of which we don’t even realize at the time. How many accidents does he prevent? Illnesses does He heal? Relationships does He restore? We are daily debtors to His grace, mere recipients of His mercy.

Have we taken the time to say thanks?

Katherine Hager- is passionate about supporting and encouraging women, but especially moms. Her vision for her writing ministry is to connect women to the Word of God as they walk through the seasons of mothering. When she is not writing, Katherine enjoys spending time with her husband, and her five children and helping run their ministry for elementary age children in central Texas.