Here’s a good Thanksgiving meditation from a familiar story:

One of them, a foreigner from Samaria, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” This man was a Samaritan. “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?” (Luke 17.15 – 18, Passion Translation NT, emphasis mine)

The point is clear: the Jewish lepers felt more entitled than the Samaritan leper. Those who feel entitled tend not to be as thankful. After I wrote that sentence in my journal, I read Seth Godin’s blog, and he said the same thing:

An attitude of entitlement doesn’t increase the chances you’ll get what you want. And it ruins the joy of the things you do get. Win or lose, you lose. –Seth Godin, emphasis mine

The ratio of thankful lepers to the group of lepers was 1 in 10: what about me? Am I the one in ten? Or, do I give thanks for even a tenth of what Jesus gives me?

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him… (Romans 1.21, ESV)