Gratitude and a Note From Lori Jacques

Posted by Trudy

I was among a group who recently received this tender note from Lori Jacques re-counting God’s goodness to her and Jason 5 years ago. It was originally written on May 10^th which would have been the 5 year anniversary.

Her attitude of gratitude touched my heart so I asked her if I could share it with you along with some Scripture that it immediately brought to my mind as I read it.

First, the note from Lori.....

Thank you Lord for 5 more years of hugs, laughs, tears, memories, father/daughter dances, dates with me, kisses, bed time prayers with the girls! Jason was rushed to Mission 5 years ago today with a tumor on his spine. THANKS to everyone who came before the throne to pray for him and our family. God showed up from day one and carried us the whole way! Even though I wasn't sure what the final out come would be, I knew God was holding our hands. Thank you Lord for still using Jason here, we needed him and you knew it !
Lori Jacques

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus chose to heal 10 lepers that He passed by on His way to Jerusalem.

As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy

I think its interesting that the healing He spoke into their lives did not happen immediately. It was after they left His presence and on their way to the priest that they became clean.

That would have taken some faith, wouldn't it? Starting the journey to show yourself to the priest when nothing had outwardly changed in your body? Taking Jesus at His word when you had no visible evidence that the miracle actually happened? That in itself is so chock full of lessons I can hardly stand it, but for time’s sake I am forcing myself to get to the point.

And the point is....Verse 15

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God!" He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Only one of the 10 lepers came back to thank Jesus. And the passage makes a point of letting us know it was the Samaritan; the other nine were Jews.

The next verse is so full of emotion it nearly breaks my heart every time I read it. Maybe its because I see myself so often in the company of the other nine.

Jesus asked, "Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"

Ten lepers had shown faith; ten lepers had been healed. But out of that entire number only one felt the need to turn back and give thanks to the Healer.

Gratitude....

• Choosing to remember and mark God’s goodness in our lives.
• Choosing to never forget.
• Choosing to not get so caught up in all that He gives us that we forget Him, that we forget to come back and thank the One that has made us whole.
• Choosing to mark it for our children to see and remember.
• To shamelessly share it with anyone who will listen.

What a beautiful act of worship. What a lovely example Lori has set. I sure like it when my kids remember to be grateful for things I've done for them. It makes me tender to them every time.

The incident seemed to make a deep impression on Jesus too.

And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you."

It seems that in the end, while all 10 got the outward cure, the grateful Samaritan - the only one who acknowledged and thanked the Healer- got an additional spiritual blessing.

In Colossians 3:15, Paul tells us to cultivate thankfulness among each other.   I think one of the best ways to cultivate thankfulness is to be thankful.

Thank you Lori for your example of doing this and may you receive that same additional spiritual blessing that gratitude surely brings!

I say we keep it going....who else has something they are grateful to God for?  Press "post a comment" and share it with us. 

He deserves our praise!