I got overwhelmed this afternoon. I was sitting at my desk thinking about my plans for the upcoming weekend, and as one who suffers from “planner-itis” I started listing all the things I needed to do.  Mayday!

Please know that I originally listed all the things I had to do so you would be overwhelmed with me, for camaraderie’s sake, but then I thought you might appreciate it more if I didn’t. Trust me, this weekend and next week are going to be busy.

Normally, I love being busy, but the holiday kind of busy is different. It means as an adult I must participate in the crafting, cooking, cleaning and prep work. Not my kind of busy. I want to be busy because I’m traveling from party to party.  Do you feel me?

I get stressed quickly with things that make me feel inadequate. For instance, I love cooking for myself, but to prepare something that real people will have to eat, um, no way. And who enjoys the pressure of picking out the perfect gift that conveys every sentiment you feel for every person you know?

But we have reached THAT season. And although I am tempted to say we are in the busy hustle and bustle of the holidays, I prefer to acknowledge that this is a time we get to corporately give thanks. I am oddly reminded of this story:

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. ¹⁶ 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 17:11-17

I could never understand how men whose lives were changed forever,… FOREVER, didn’t return to thank the One that gave them a new beginning, a chance at fulfillment, a chance to live with dignity.  However, I am convicted at how easily and often my knees fall to the ground begging God with tearful prayers for something or the other. But it is not as often that they fall to the ground with gratitude or thankfulness for how he answered that prayer. Ouch!

I don’t want to be one of those nine men.  I want to be that one that came back and acknowledged God’s grace and kindness. During this season, I am reminded that just living the thing is seen in the beauty of a thankful heart.