Fruitful Gratitude

MARIE HELENE ELISABETH JANICKE

On pages three and four of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, we read, "While the heart is far from divine Truth and Love, we cannot conceal the ingratitude of barren lives." We learn in Christian Science that from the first day we take up its study, we may demonstrate all the truth we understand. This is very encouraging, but it entails a great obligation. We learn that man reflects God, good, divine Mind, and that we are reflecting divine Mind, or good, only as we pass along or communicate that which we have received. Gratitude helps us to do this. If from the depths of a pure heart we are grateful to God for the precious gifts of peace, joy, love, that we have received, it is a natural consequence of our gratitude to pass along these blessings to our fellow-men.

If we should encounter the belief of anxiety, from which mankind suffers in belief so much in these days, we can meet the error with the peace "which passeth all understanding;" and thus, as in all our ways, by our thoughts and through carefully chosen words of encouragement, replace anxiety and care with peace and joy. If we truly love, by proving by reflection that God is Love and man is His image and reflection, we shall be as a light on the dark paths of all who seem to suffer from the beliefs of bitterness, loneliness, wrong, or slight; for they may be likened to him who, in the Bible parable, fell among thieves; and fruitful gratitude is oil and wine for all the wounds of mortal mind.

To those who, through the precious truths of Christian Science, have been healed from beliefs of bodily ailments, and have been led out of the darkness of fear, of sin, or of sorrow, our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has, in establishing the Wednesday evening meetings, afforded therein a splendid opportunity for fruitful gratitude. How often it has happened that one has come to one of these meetings apparently laboring and heavy-laden! He could see no way out of the seeming darkness. But there he heard a testimony in which gratitude was expressed for just such a healing as he himself was in need of, or the problem which had been solved resembled his, if it were not altogether the same. Then he perceived that divine help was available for him, too; and he received comfort, joy, hope, from the thought that divine Love had spoken to him through his neighbor, healing and promising more of good. The testimony he had heard became to him the gospel of glad tidings, of "Fear thou not; for I am with thee."

If we are attacked by the error of discouragement, because of a problem seemingly too difficult for solution, we should remember with gratitude the strength and the help which we have previously experienced. We should remember what a precious, never failing remedy we possess in the truths revealed in Christian Science, and how through this revelation every Bible promise turns into an active source of strength. Then we shall be filled with such joyous gratitude that some later Wednesday evening testimony meeting will be to us like a feast at which we may express our gratitude for God's goodness.

The knowledge that every testimony that comes from a pure and grateful heart may lead others to the bread of Life, which feeds, refreshes, and sustains, is fruitful gratitude. If we understand this, no error, whether in the form of fear or of self-consciousness, will be able to hinder our joyfully opening our mouths that they may show forth God's praise. In Psalms we read, "Whose offereth praise glori-fieth me [God]: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God."

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Demonstration Individual

June 2, 1923

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