Aren’t I Important to You?
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. ~ Luke 17:15-16
Illustration for 'The Life of Christ' copyright 1886-94. Tissoud, James Jaques Joseph (1832-1902). Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA / The Bridgeman Art Library
I opened the campus mailbox eagerly. I just knew that I had to have a card waiting. It was only a couple more days until my birthday, and I knew that he wouldn’t forget. He wrote me several times a week; long, beautiful letters that shared everything happening in his life. We had met over the summer and had kept in touch for almost eight months now. But there was nothing, at least not from him.
The next day, I eagerly checked again. Certainly, it would be here today. But it was not. Each day, I checked my mailbox, more convinced than ever that THIS would be the day. My birthday came, and still there was no card. Well, at least he’ll call, right? I mean we talk frequently and he knows it’s my birthday. But there was no phone call either. As a proper Southern lady, I did not dare call him, but I was crushed. How could he not acknowledge my birthday? But the reality was that he did not.
We talked later in the week, and he apologized for missing it. I was expecting some great story for why he had missed something so important. But his only response was this, “Oops, I forgot to flip my calendar.” WHAT? My birthday is not important enough for you to remember without flipping a calendar? I was annoyed, but I wrote it off to him being a guy and quickly forgave him.
Year two, birthday comes along. There is no way that he’s going to forget this one, right? Nope, forgot it again. And year three. And year four. And year five. And year six. We were great friends, but somehow he could never remember my birthday in time to acknowledge it. I think we had known each other for over ten years before he finally remembered it. In his mind, we had a lot of great times together; he wrote to me and called me regularly; we were friends. That was what was important.
So often, I think that God must feel the same way about me. We’ve been friends for a really long time, but I frequently forget to acknowledge Him when it’s important. Every day, He gives me blessings, but how often do I say thank you? How often do I express to Him how much HE means to me. Not being happy that I have things or health, but happy that I have Him.
The ten lepers must have been the same way. I’m sure that all of them were glad to see that their lives had been changed by Jesus’ miraculous healing, but they were busy. They had things to do. The things were important. The law said that if they had been cleansed of leprosy that they needed to stand before the High Priest. They were fulfilling their obligations. But in their hurry to do, they forgot to first be. Be thankful, be in the moment, be still.
Have you found yourself making excuses for why you have not spent more time just being? If so, pray about. Ask God what He wants for your life. I’ve found that this is an area where I still struggle regularly. Today on my blog, I will be talking a little more about something that God has been working in me. I hope that you will hop over to learn a little more about it. Perhaps it is something that He has put on your heart as well, and we can journey for a while together.
Wonderful post.
Powerful reminder that we should thank God on a daily basis. Even if our hearts don’t ‘feel’ thankful due to circumstance, God is worthy of our daily thanks.