The Grateful Leper Teaches Us about Gratitude

One day, when Jesus was walking through a small village he noticed a group of ten lepers. They stood far away from the crowd and shouted, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” The lepers knew who Jesus was and that he had the power to heal their leprosy. Jesus heard their cry for help. He took pity on their condition and healed the sores that covered them. He shouted back to them to show themselves to the priest. This is what they had to do to prove they were no longer contagious and could return to the city.

Having faith in Jesus, the lepers began to make their way to the priest. As they were walking, they noticed that their sores were healed and their skin was clear. They had been healed! Now they started to run to the priest, singing and dancing as they went.

Suddenly, one of them remembered that he needed to thank Jesus so he went back to where Jesus was. He began praising God loudly and then he threw himself at Jesus’ feet and said, “Thank You.” What a heartfelt gesture it was to place himself at the feet of Jesus and simply say “Thank You”. This was so much more than a show of manners. It is heartfelt gratefulness.