A Thankful Heart

For months I had been doing medical work in the small Gobasi village in PNG. With the closest medical worker a day’s walk away, I found myself dressing sores, dispensing aspirin, and giving medicine and injections according to a missionary doctor’s orders. Even though I was not a nurse, they had no one else and depended on me. My little knowledge was better than nothing, and I used the short-wave radio to get in touch with one of the missionary doctors on the 12:00 sked time.  

It was an exhausting and overwhelming task. Before 7 a.m. every morning, people waited outside my door. I’d hear the soft chatter of those waiting while I started my day.  Knowing little of the tribal language at the time, I did my best to communicate, sticking with simple phrases.

One morning a lady named Suwaliba came and explained that she had terrible pain in her ears. Seeing pus in both, I knew she had a severe infection. Giving her a jar of antibiotic pills and pain medication, I gave instructions on how to take them. She left for the village.

Days later she returned. Smiling, she shoved a bundle wrapped and tied up in leaves toward me. I opened the bundle at her request and saw a small pile of akali nuts, edible seeds taken from a large tree in the jungle. My husband and I loved them.

Thinking she was selling them, I said, “Do you want money?”

“No,” she said, “my ears were hurting badly, and you gave me medicine. Now they are better, and I’m giving you the nuts.”

Pushing them toward my hand she said, “Eat.”

There was no word for “Thank You” in their language, but clearly, that was her intention. Although I knew everyone appreciated my help, no one had given me a gift or returned to show appreciation. She was the only one who showed her gratefulness. I was touched.  Her simple act of kindness encouraged my heart to persevere. Now I know how Christ must have felt when the one leper returned to thank Him.

 Do we show thankfulness? Are we quick to express an encouraging word to others? A kind word or an expression of gratitude can change someone’s day.  We often neglect this simplest of ways to uplift another. Look for opportunities.  Let’s follow Christ’s command in Colossians 3:15 to “be thankful” not only to God, but to those who touch our lives. Share a kind word with someone today!

PRAYER: Lord, help me to not only be thankful for all you do for me, but to express thankfulness and kindness to those you bring my way.

“Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan),” Luke 17:15, 16 NET.