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Several years ago, I came across a story that I’d like to share with you.

“One afternoon a shopper at a local mall felt the need for a coffee break.  She bought herself a bag of cookies and put them in her shopping bag.  She then got in line for coffee, found a place to sit at one of the crowded tables, and then, taking the lid off her coffee and taking out a magazine, she began to sip her coffee and read.  Across the table from her a man sat reading a newspaper.

After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie.  As she did, the man seated across the table reached out and took one too.  She was upset, but she didn’t say anything.

A few moments later she took another cookie.  Once again, the man did so too.  Now she was really upset, but still, she didn’t say anything.

After having a couple sips of coffee, she once again took another cookie.  So did the man.  She was even more upset now, especially when she saw that there was only one cookie left.  Apparently, the man also realized that only one cookie was left.  Before she could say anything, he took the cookie, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded to eat the other half himself.  Then he smiled at her and, putting his paper under his arm, rose and walked off.

Was she steamed.  Her coffee break was ruined.  She could hardly wait to tell her family.  She folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag, and there, discovered her own unopened bag of cookies!”

I really like this story.  It makes me think about how good God treats me, regardless of how I treat Him. 

It also serves as a reminder that I don’t always appreciate all that I have received from His Hands.   

 The appointed Gospel reading for our National Day of Thanksgiving has long been Luke 17:1-10  – “Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.  As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him.  They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.”

 “When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”  And as they went, they were cleansed.   One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and ‘thanked Him’ – and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked:  “Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?  Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”  [The fact that the Samaritan returned to thank Jesus may indicate that he had received salvation in addition to the physical healing that all ten had received].

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits , Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the Pit; Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; Who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”     [Psalm 103:1-5]

“O Give Thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.  And His mercy endures forever.”   [Psalm 136:1]

Happy Thanksgiving!!!