Been reading a book.  Came in this last batch of books donated to our library.  Talking about being grateful.  Told a true story from the late 1800s.  There was a ship that was hit and disintegrated.  One young man on board had been in seminary, preparing to become a pastor.  He was a good swimmer and ended up saving seventeen people from drowning that night.  However in the process he lost his own health.  He spent much of the time in a wheelchair.  Seminary was out of the question. He never became a pastor.  In fact he wasn't able to do much of anything.  From time to time someone would write an article about the wreck and always mention the man who saved seventeen lives.  Then twenty years later a young reported contacted him.  He was doing an article about the wreck.  He asked what the man who saved so many lives remembers about that night.  The man said whenever he thinks of that night, he remembers saving seventeen lives, but mostly he remembers that nobody ever came and said thank you to him.

Some time ago our driver began telling us about an important lesson someone had taught him.  He used to take things for granted.  But this person taught by example that it is good to say thank you to everyone.  To the gate guard that lets you onto the center.  To the waitress who brings your food to you.  To the grocery clerk who tallies your grocery bill.  To just everyone.  So now he notices the little people and says thank you to them.  He asked if I knew who it was that taught him this valuable lesson.  I hadn't a clue.  Guy piped up and said that it was me!  So I told them this is what we learn in God's Word.  There were ten lepers who were healed but only one came back and thanked Jesus.  Eric was amazed at the practicality of that Bible passage.  He had never thought of how it applies to our everyday life.