The One

 Yesterday I worked with more than 30 different struggling teens in my classroom throughout the day.  

29 of them asked for a snack.  I work better when I am not hungry, so I always have some simple things for them.

A few chose fresh mandarins, one chose an apple, and the rest chose granola bars or Oreos left from another project.

ONE said thank you.

And he was at the end of the day.

It took me by surprise how much I appreciated that thank you after a long day.  

So I let him have one more Oreo.

His classmate immediately piped up, “But I said thank you too.”

I reminded him that his  exact words were “Why you so stingy?” when I said he could have two cookies.  I had then prompted, “Do you mean Thank You, Mrs. Potter?” He had nodded his head.

Nope.  That doesn’t count. 

I don’t expect them to say thank you every time.  Some of them are going through some pretty big and difficult stuff.

But it sure does feel rewarding to hear it.  

I bet Heavenly Father feels that way too.

He knows when we are going through big and difficult stuff.

But our gratitude has to feel rewarding.  

And it lifts us up. 

The Savior cared enough about it that the story of the 10 lepers made it into the New Testament.

In Luke 17 we read, One returned, fell on his face at the Master’s feet, and gave thanks. Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” And then the Lord said to the one who returned, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”.

It’s up to us to determine if we are the one.

If we are thanking our Heavenly Parents for loving us, for allowing us this life and for the countless tender mercies.

And when we are, every now and again, we get that extra Oreo. 

Our faith makes us whole.