I enjoy the holiday season with all the extra special songs, movies, cooking, baking and family time plus I like playing secret Santa but with all the fun of this season I also at times feel like Charlie Brown with the commercialism that this time of year can bring.
In years past when my children were small and I had the in-laws to contend with. They were under the impression that it was all about what was under the tree. This always drove me nuts and at times I would allow that to upset me and steal away the joy of the season. I wanted to share in the season with my children and show them in was not in the monetary things.
I am very proud of my children who understand it is better to give than receive. Now they give back not only in monetary means but of themselves and are grateful with what they have or receive.
With that said, I have been hearing a lot lately of the story in the new testament of Jesus healing ten men with leprosy.
Luke 17:11-19New International Version (NIV)
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Growing up I would hear/read this and think who would be so ungrateful and not go back and say thank you for such a life changing gift. I would almost get on my soap box thinking at least I would go back, or would I?
I realized the other day reading this that I can be like the lepers that didn’t go back. I can get so wrapped up in the excitement of getting something I give a quick thank you or sometimes none at all. I can get so caught up with life that I don’t give thanks to the one that gave me a new life.
I have so much to be thankful. I don’t have room to write it down but I forget to be the one in ten to say thank you to God for the small gifts and then there is the best gift of all. I have a new life just like the lepers because of Jesus, so Merry Christmas aka happy birthday to Jesus.
It is up to me to embrace the Charlie Brown attitude or to be Linus seeing the real meaning behind Christmas and be the one in ten.