11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Thank you!

There are just too many people to thank for all of their love and support during my family’s first four months here in Berkeley. I dare not name names for fear of missing someone unintentionally (see September’s “sorry” article). But I feel I would be remiss especially in this time of Thanksgiving not to acknowledge all of the people who have worked so hard and given so much to help us out.

We like to think of ourselves as being self-accomplished; of being “self-made” people. But the truth is none of us are “self-made.” We are the product of the efforts of so many others in our lives. So make sure to take time out to give thanks to those who have made a difference in your life.

I read this passage and think of how so often we forget to give thanks. Often to the people who make the biggest impact on who we are. Leading a life of intentional gratitude is one way to bend your life toward God. The nine lepers in the story weren’t unusual. They were the norm. They did what we normally do –
Cont. On back
Cont. from front
take for granted the blessings we have and never give thanks for them. The one guy who turned back is who God wants us to be like. When Jesus tells him “your faith has made you well” he isn’t talking about the leprosy anymore. He’s talking about the wellness of his soul.

As Thanksgiving approaches, take time to remember the blessings in your life and those who provided them. Give back in some small way to all of those who have made a difference in your life – be it a “thank you” card, a gift, or something personal. Take TIME to be thankful now and always. Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace and Blessings,
Craig