A Disappointing Birthday
A DISAPPOINTING BIRTHDAY
Read Luke 17:11-19.
When Lauren’s birthday arrived, she found an envelope for her in the mailbox. She clapped her hands. She had known it would be there. Every year Aunt Joy sent twenty dollars. Quickly, she tore the envelope open and found a beautiful card. Lauren opened the card, expecting twenty dollars, but there was no money. The card was signed, “All my love, Aunt Joy.”
“I can’t believe this!” Lauren exclaimed. “Mom, I got a birthday card from Aunt Joy, but there’s no money in it!”
Mom said gently, “Aunt Joy told me she was going to leave it out this year.”
“But why?” asked Lauren.
“Last year you never wrote to thank her for it,” answered Mom. Lauren remembered the many times Mom had reminded her, but she had never gotten around to writing. Mom went on, “Aunt Joy loves you very much, and she wants to help you learn to be a thankful person.
“Do you remember the story of ten lepers? They must all have been happy to be healed, but only one came back to tell Jesus how he felt. Jesus was pleased with that one. The others may have been thankful, but they didn’t show it.”
Lauren said, “I was wrong not to write Aunt Joy. From now on, I’m going to thank people for things they do for me.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you remember to thank others when they do something for you? How about thanking your parents for all the washing, cooking, shopping, and errands they do? How about thanking them for providing a home for you? Think of other people who do things for you and thank them. It takes practice to show thankfulness, but that’s what God wants you to do.
TO MEMORIZE:
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?”
Luke 17:17
EXPRESS THANKFULNESS.
From the book
