He Turns

The now 8 year old gets a "party" with 3 friends invited home after school to play. We tell him that his last present is hidden somewhere outside, unwrapped, and he has to go find it. He takes his buddies (and a couple other neighborhood friends) out to search. His friends, all of them, find the present before he does and they yell. "Caleb, come here. It's here! We found it."

"It's a bike".

He walks a few more steps until he wraps his mind around their words. Then he stops in his tracks, turns around with a smile reflecting his heart and he speaks. "A new bike? Thank you Mommy and Daddy, thank you! A new bike! Thank you Mommy and Daddy".

We nod agreement (thank you, Jesus) and he moves forward to check out his new bike.

He never expected the bike even though his old bike has been broken for months. He was surprised and excited just like any 8 year old boy would be. And he turned to give thanks before he even laid hands on his gift.

Oh, to have a heart like his, that turns ready to thank.

It reminds me of another story:
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. 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 17:12-19