"Please" and "Thank You"

When you say "please," you're showing respect for the other person. You're admitting that you need help and that you value what they can give you. When you say "thank you," you're recognizing that someone chose to help you when they didn't have to. Think about it - your friends, teachers, and family members do things for you every day that they could choose not to do.

Our story today is about ten men who had a terrible skin disease called leprosy. In Jesus' time, having leprosy meant you were completely cut off from society. You couldn't hug your family, go to school, play with friends, or even go to church. People with leprosy had to live together in groups outside the towns and cities. If healthy people came near, they had to shout "Unclean! Unclean!" to warn them away. Imagine how lonely and hopeless that would feel.

One day, Jesus was traveling through a village when ten lepers saw him from far away. They had heard about this amazing teacher who could heal people, and they desperately wanted to be healed. They called out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Notice they said "please" in their own way - they asked for mercy, which means they were humbly asking for help they knew they didn't deserve.

Jesus didn't touch them or say any magic words. He simply said, "Go show yourselves to the priest." In their culture, priests were like doctors who could officially declare someone healed and allow them back into society. As these ten men walked toward the priest, something incredible happened - their skin became completely healthy! Can you imagine their excitement? After years of being outcasts, they were finally free!

All ten men were thrilled and probably ran straight to their families to celebrate. But here's where the story gets interesting - only one man stopped what he was doing and went back to find Jesus. He fell at Jesus' feet and said "Thank you!" with his whole heart. Jesus looked around and asked, "Weren't ten healed? Where are the other nine?"

This makes us think: How often do we forget to say thank you for the amazing things in our lives? Not just the big miracles, but the everyday gifts - your health, your family, your friends, your education, even your next meal. When was the last time you really thanked God for something specific?

The nine men who didn't return weren't necessarily bad people. They were probably just caught up in their excitement and forgot. But the one who remembered to thank Jesus received something extra - Jesus' personal attention and blessing. Gratitude doesn't just make the giver feel good; it changes us too.

Here's a challenge for you this week: Every night before bed, think of three specific things you're grateful for that day. Maybe your mom packed your favorite lunch, a friend helped you with homework, or you saw something beautiful in nature. Thank God for those things, and if possible, thank the people who helped you too.

Remember, gratitude isn't just about being polite - it's about recognizing all the good things in your life and the people who make them possible. When we develop grateful hearts, we become happier, more positive people who others enjoy being around.

Let's pray together: Dear God, thank you for all the ways you take care of us every single day. Help us to notice your gifts and to remember to thank you and others. Make us people who appreciate what we have instead of always wanting more. Help us be like the one leper who remembered to say thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.