On Gratitude

By Sharon Nauta Steele

Sharon Nauta Steele lives in Utah, USA.

In a certain village, on a certain day,

ten lepers stood far off

and lifted up their voices unto Christ:

“Have mercy on us, Master, please,

take our infirmities away.”

And it was done. According to the grace

of the Savior, Father’s Son,

they showed themselves unto the priest

and were cleansed.

And one of them, on finding he was whole,

paused moments on a grassy knoll,

turned his back

upon the path he would have trod,

and fell upon his face in praise of God.

But of the other nine, no word of thanks

escaped their tongues;

no hymns of praise were sung.

Too busy in their haste

to get on with their lives—

to publish joyous tidings

to their children and their wives—

perhaps without intending to be rude,

they overlooked the sacrament of thanks

and lost the sacred blessing bought

by showing gratitude.

Oh, that I might

from this parable be taught

and practice well the part

of living with an ever-grateful heart.

Photo illustration by David Stoker