Daily Affirmations - Day 1- Focus on Gratitude: The Other Nine

This week's Theme: Focus on Gratitude

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Day 1: The Other Nine

Recently as I scrolled through some old prayers I had recorded, I came across a prayer where I had asked for help for some cats I had heard about. It was a simple prayer— the cats had no home and were facing many difficulties.

I know that some might believe that this would fall in the category of "Too trivial for prayer," but Scripture has shown me enough about God's care and concern for the animals He has made (Psalm 36:6, Jonah 4:11, Luke 12:6).

Now a few years later, I realized with a start that subsequent snatches of conversation about the cats had shown great improvement in their situation over time. But I had not put "two and two together"— had not "returned" to give thanks to God for providing help in the middle of the messy details of a groaning creation broken by sin (Romans 8:22).

It is amazing that as often as God meets us in so many needs with so many blessings for ourselves and for the world around us, we are often like "the other nine" who never return to say thanks. The Gospel writer Luke gives us the account:

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? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:11-19).

Reading the account, we are shocked and dismayed by the ingratitude of "the other nine." Yet, how often we ourselves go on our way, not returning to thank the One who cares for the sparrow, and for us.

Today, and everyday, I want to focus on gratitude— to remember to thank God for His Providential care over the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). And even over stray kittens and lost sheep!

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Refrain:

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flow’r that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountains,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning

That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,

The meadows where we play,

The rushes by the water,

To gather every day.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

~ Cecil F. Alexander ~ pub. 1848