Thanksgiving Guided Meditation

This guided meditation is based on Luke 17:11–19, Jesus' healing of the ten lepers. Use the meditation with your students to help them to reflect on what gratitude means to them.

Quiet down.
Relax.
Let go of all your distractions.
Settle.

Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.

Be still.
Relax.
Let all your worries fly away.

Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.

Breathe in.
Hold.
Breathe out.

Imagine . . .

It has been a long journey.
You are tired.
You have been walking with Jesus and all his disciples for awhile.
You have learned a lot.
Allow yourself to feel exhausted.

As you approach the town you see men—in looks like ten of them—yelling at your group from a distance.
Look over at them.
They are lepers.
Hands, mouths, noses, ears have seemingly disappeared.
Look at them again, but do not stare.
It is an ugly sight.

They cry, "Jesus have pity on us."
When Jesus seems them he walks over to where they are gathered.
You follow, but at a distance.
Are you scared you will catch it?

He tells the lepers, "Go present yourself to the religious leaders."
They all depart.
A little while later a man who is a foreigner comes up to your group, knees before Jesus praising God.
You recognize the man as one of the lepers that Jesus cured.
Watch his jubilation!
Share in it!

Jesus says to the man,
"Didn't I heal all ten of you?
Where are they other nine?
Why is only the foreigner here to give thanks to God?"
Think about Jesus' words.

Jesus tells the man,
"Stand up, and go your way; your faith has been your salvation."
The man gets off his knees and continues to give praise to God.
Jesus looks at you and asks, "Why didn't the others not come and thank God?"
He continues, "Have you thanked God lately?"
Answer him.

It is time to renter this space.
Say good-bye for now.
Ask Jesus to lead your way into the rest of the day.
Say "thank you."

Come back gently.
Open your eyes.
Remember.
Sit up.

This meditation was written by Patty McCulloch and originally published in Touching Jesus: 20 Guided Meditations on His Care and Compassion.