by A. A. Neale

I tried the dictionary and came away unsatisfied. It threw thankful and grateful back and forth between entries.

I consulted the Bible research tools, and they did better. But their definitions were dry and lifeless.

Then I found the perfect definition.

"Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17:15-16, NASB).

Perhaps I may do this definition no violence by taking it in parts.

First, the lone leper saw that he had been healed. Being thankful means noticing that something good has happened. Something very good.

Second, he turned back. Sure, he was off to see the temple priest to be declared clean, but some things were more important than getting reintegrated back into society. Like appearing before one's Benefactor.

Third, he glorified God. With a loud voice. Now, I'm the silent type. But I'm trying to get loud. Gratitude amplifies the voice with joyful singing and heart-felt praise.

Fourth, he fell on his face before Jesus. The dusty feet of this traveling Teacher must have been the most glorious sight in the world to this man.

Fifth, he knew who he was, a Samaritan. He knew he didn't deserve his cure. Perhaps the other nine, Jews all, thought they had it coming as God's chosen people. This man understood that he had just been blessed for no earthly reason. And that took him to see a heavenly motive.

There you have it. The best definition of gratitude I could find.

Now to just live it.