I love the following story, related by many, about a well-known author of a by-gone era:
He lived from 1865 to 1936. He was English, yet born in Bombay, India. He wrote poetry and authored books such as Captains Courageous and The Jungle Book, and numerous short stories such as How the Leopard Got His Spots, How the Camel Got His Hump, and The Man Who Would Be King. His name was Rudyard Kipling.
Kipling‘s writings not only made him famous but also brought him a fortune. A newspaper reporter came up to him once and said, “Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over one hundred dollars a word.”
The reporter reached into his pocket and pulled out a one hundred-dollar bill and gave it to Kipling and said, “Here‘s a one hundred dollar bill, Mr. Kipling. Now you give me one of your hundred dollar words.” Rudyard Kipling looked at the money, put it in his pocket and said, “Thanks!”
A number of people, commenting on this treasured story, have observed that “thanks” is much more than a hundred dollar word. Indeed, it might be said to be a million dollar word. And even that value is not enough to begin expressing the true significance of this one little word when it is fitly spoken.
In chapter 17, verses 11-17, the New Testament Gospel of Luke records an obscure little episode in the life of Jesus Christ:
11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
The point of this story is self-evident. Ten were blessed; but only one showed gratitude. And that one word of gratitude, so fitly spoken, must have held special value in the ear of Jesus, especially when compared with the voluminous silence of the other nine!
This week, as we prepare for the annual Thanksgiving holiday, I remind you of the importance of a simple word of thanks. A small word of appreciation might mean far more to other people than we realize. And if such a small word is meaningful to other people, how much more will it be esteemed by God!
STORY SOURCE: This story is available widely both in print on the internet. My immediate source is a message titled “Give Thanks to God” by "Rocky" Henriques at http://www.timothyreport.com/Sermons/Give_Thanks_to_Him.pdf
“Rocky”, aka Dr. S. M. Henriques, is a gifted Baptist Pastor who has authored several books, all available on Amazon.com, including "12 Surprises of Heaven," and "The Stupefying Grace of God."
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/luke/17.htm.
He lived from 1865 to 1936. He was English, yet born in Bombay, India. He wrote poetry and authored books such as Captains Courageous and The Jungle Book, and numerous short stories such as How the Leopard Got His Spots, How the Camel Got His Hump, and The Man Who Would Be King. His name was Rudyard Kipling.
Kipling‘s writings not only made him famous but also brought him a fortune. A newspaper reporter came up to him once and said, “Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over one hundred dollars a word.”
The reporter reached into his pocket and pulled out a one hundred-dollar bill and gave it to Kipling and said, “Here‘s a one hundred dollar bill, Mr. Kipling. Now you give me one of your hundred dollar words.” Rudyard Kipling looked at the money, put it in his pocket and said, “Thanks!”
A number of people, commenting on this treasured story, have observed that “thanks” is much more than a hundred dollar word. Indeed, it might be said to be a million dollar word. And even that value is not enough to begin expressing the true significance of this one little word when it is fitly spoken.
In chapter 17, verses 11-17, the New Testament Gospel of Luke records an obscure little episode in the life of Jesus Christ:
11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
The point of this story is self-evident. Ten were blessed; but only one showed gratitude. And that one word of gratitude, so fitly spoken, must have held special value in the ear of Jesus, especially when compared with the voluminous silence of the other nine!
This week, as we prepare for the annual Thanksgiving holiday, I remind you of the importance of a simple word of thanks. A small word of appreciation might mean far more to other people than we realize. And if such a small word is meaningful to other people, how much more will it be esteemed by God!
STORY SOURCE: This story is available widely both in print on the internet. My immediate source is a message titled “Give Thanks to God” by "Rocky" Henriques at http://www.timothyreport.com/Sermons/Give_Thanks_to_Him.pdf
“Rocky”, aka Dr. S. M. Henriques, is a gifted Baptist Pastor who has authored several books, all available on Amazon.com, including "12 Surprises of Heaven," and "The Stupefying Grace of God."
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/luke/17.htm.