The One Who Said Thank You

Can you hold up all ten fingers? Give them a wiggle! This story is about ten men, and something only one of them remembered to do.

One day, Jesus was walking along the road to Jerusalem, passing between two lands called Samaria and Galilee. As he came near a little village, ten men came to meet him. But they stopped far away, and stood at a distance. These men had a sickness called leprosy. It made their skin sore and patchy, and people were afraid of catching it. So the men had to live away from everyone else. They couldn't go home. They couldn't even hug their families.

It must have been very lonely. That's why they stood so far away. But they believed Jesus could help them. They lifted up their voices and shouted, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" That means, please be kind to us, Jesus! Please help us!

When Jesus saw them, he said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." In those days, the priests were the ones who checked whether someone's skin was well again, so they could go back home. But the men weren't better yet! Still, they turned and started walking, just as Jesus said.

Step by step, down the dusty road they went. And as they went, something wonderful happened. Their sores were gone! Their skin was smooth and clean and healthy! They were healed, all ten of them! They could go home. They could hug their families again!

Now, nine of the men kept on going. Maybe they were in a hurry. Maybe they just forgot. But one man stopped. He looked at his arms and his hands, and he saw that he was healed. He couldn't keep it in! He turned right around and came back, praising God with a loud voice. He bowed down at Jesus' feet, with his face to the ground, and he thanked him, again and again.

And here's a surprise. This man was a Samaritan, from a different land. In those days, his people and Jesus' people usually didn't get along at all. Jesus said, "Weren't the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?" Then he asked, "Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?"

Hold up your ten fingers again. Now fold down nine of them. Only one is left. Ten men were healed, but only one, the man from far away, came back to say thank you. Jesus said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you." Faith means trusting Jesus. And this man trusted him with all his heart.

And off he went, healed on the outside, and full of joy on the inside.

This story teaches us to remember to say thank you, to God, and to the people who help us. Saying thank you is a way of saying, I noticed the good thing you did for me, and it made me glad. God gives us so many good gifts, every single day. What could you thank him for today? Maybe your family, your food, or a sunny sky.