Article November 24, 1928 Issue

Gratitude

LUCIE HASKELL HILL

Gratitude , purifying and refreshing as the spring which bursts from the mountain side, is a natural quality of spiritual man; but because mortals are still manifesting, in greater or less degree, the traits of Adam, or the false concept of man, they may have only a slight understanding of what constitutes genuine gratitude. They have so long associated the act of being grateful with some specific material reason for gratitude, that it may seem a new and a strange thing to be thankful for the fact of the reality and everpresence of good and the consequent unreality or nonexistence of evil. Christian Scientists, however, are finding joy and benefit in apprehending and reflecting more of the gratitude which enables them, in the words of Paul, to "rejoice ... alway," even in the midst of sore trials and seemingly inextricable difficulties.

A little lad who was unable to take a single step, or even to hold himself up to the window, was given a bowl containing two goldfish. His face shone with pleasure. "I shall name them Peter and John," he said. "But why Peter and John?" he was asked. "Because," the child replied, "I am so grateful for what they did for the lame man 'at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful.'" How wholly unselfed the thought! The child had not allowed his own deprivation to tinge his joy in the good which had come to another; he had not contrasted his own apparently deferred healing with the instant release of the man referred to in the Bible. Is it any wonder that the gate Beautiful soon swung open for him, and that he too found the blessing of freedom and activity? In his spontaneous gratitude for good, however remotely manifested, the child had found the open-sesame to the portal of healing.

How many of us who are in search of healing or of the fulfillment of some cherished hope are actually joyful in the blessings made manifest to those around us? As we read the testimonies of healing in the Christian Science periodicals, do we pause to "rejoice with them that do rejoice," or do we perhaps wonder, half complainingly, why we too have not realized complete healing; or do we even feel tempted to envy these joyful ones? Perhaps we are being grateful after the fashion of mortal mind, which must postpone its expression of gratitude until it has something material within its grasp. Do we consider that mortal mind, having no real cognizance of good, having in fact no intelligence, is a poor guide to tell us when to be glad? Only divine Mind can show us the meaning of gratitude; and it is constantly whispering to us its beautiful healing message of man's oneness with God, good.

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