There are two co-workers who do not like each other.
We will call one Dwight and the other Jim.
Dwight gets credit for the Golden Ticket idea at The Office and people are congratulating him.
Jim mentions to everyone including Dwight how he made fun of Dwight for it and apologizes.
Dwight (while holding his hand up and accepting the congratulations comments from everyone) replies to Jim in two words…
Apology rejected.
Even a simple apology feels like a backhanded comment from these two.
It's hard for us as people to recognize when somebody does good work sometimes.
Jesus was healing 10 people with leprosy, he sent them to see the priests and they were cleansed.
When one of them saw he was healed, came back praised God while throwing himself at Jesus' feet and thanking him.
This man was a Samaritan, people often looked at as rivals to Jews.
They did not like each other.
Yet he came back and was thankful, the other nine did not.
Jesus said this in Luke 17:18-19…
"Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Those who were supposed to be close to Jesus did not respond, yet a foreigner did and was thankful.
Why is it so hard to earn approval?
9 out of 10 were not that grateful for what Jesus did.
Yet this was typical of the response of Jesus.
He heals leprosy and no thank you from people.
People had trouble responding to what Jesus did, even the miracles.
There was one who was thankful.
I have worked in a couple of different jobs in which there is not a lot of thanks or appreciation.
I was a sports writer and usually the only calls you get is to complain about you.
I worked for two daily newspapers, Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun and Lansing State Journal.
I would have friends and family ask so how are things going at the Lansing State Urinal or the Morning Scum?
No appreciation.
I know friends in the media and still have some to this day.
The majority of media are good people that have to report on bad things.
When I was in high school and Columbine happened, everyone blamed the media for the coverage.
Yet, was it the media that turned every TV in our school to live action in Columbine?
No, yet they were the ones being blamed.
It's a job with not much appreciation, this is the same with Jesus.
Who are you thankful for?
Do they know this?
Do you show how thankful you are of other people?
Let's try something today, be thankful.
Thank someone else that normally doesn't get much thanks or appreciation.
Jesus deserved this and deserves appreciation along with other people in your life.
Are you going to be appreciative or ungrateful?
The choice is yours.
Have a great day.
