We, too, can approach Jesus with the deep troubles of our hearts and lives. Not just the physical trouble, but all the trouble. Jesus loved these lepers and Jesus loves you. Gratitude is also about what we say. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
Words are powerful tools in our culture.
Each one of us appreciates a word of thanks, and notices when it is missing. When his two little boys were nine and seven, dad had to be gone on Mother's Day. The Saturday before Mother's Day, the boys asked their mom if she would drive them to K-mart. The mom stayed in one part of the store while the boys did their shopping. Mom could have responded in so many different ways.