Article November 20, 1909 Issue

"LET US COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING"

FRANKLYN J. MORGAN, M.D.

The word "thankful" is defined as: "Deeply sensible of kindness received and disposed to acknowledge it; grateful; as, a thankful spirit." "Thanksgiving" as; "The expression of gratitude, of the acknowledgment of kindnesses, particularly, the rendering of such thanks to God." Paul says: "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving."

The word "gratitude," as a synonym for thanksgiving, more properly and correctly interprets the true thought of the subject in this instance, as the following definitions amply testify; "A sense of appreciation of favors received, accompanied with good will toward benefactor. Gratitude is the natural repose of the heart to kindness intended or received" (Standard Dictionary). The author of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" on page 3 clearly defines the true Scriptural meaning of gratitude—and in this case thanksgiving—thus: "Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech." And on the following page she says, "Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude." It is well also, in this connection, to study the words of opposite meaning. "Ingratitude" is defined as: "Indisposition to reciprocate; insensibility to kindness." Seneca has said, "Ingratitude is, of all the crimes, that which we are to account the most venial in others, and the most unpardonable in ourselves." Mrs. Eddy associates ingratitude with injustice, sensuality, hatred, and greed, in connection with the betrayal and persecution of Jesus. (See Science and Health, pp. 47, 94)

After the supposed fate of Daniel had been sealed and he was about to be cast into the lions' den, he "prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did a foretime." Jesus the great Master prefaced his demonstration over sickness and death with "Father, I thank thee." Paul admonishes the Colossians: "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." He counseled the Ephesians to give thanks "always for all things unto God;" and to the Thessalonians he said: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God." The Bible is pregnant with this thought of gratitude as being a necessary condition of mind in order to experience the influx of divine aid, guidance, and ministration. Paul says that thanksgiving should be continuous,—"for all things" and "in every thing,"—for this is according to divine law; meaning thereby the quality of thought as expressed in the deeper sense of appreciation, as well as the just recognition of God as the Giver of all good gifts.

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