Article August 8, 1931 Issue

Gratitude

CARL WALTER GEHRING

Gratitude is an acknowledgment of the existence of good and of good received. Gratitude plays an important part in the relations of human life. The one who expresses gratitude makes himself and his associates joyful, whereas the one who refuses to be grateful brings discontent to himself and displeasure to those with whom he comes in contact. From his own experience it must be apparent to everyone, who considers this human phase even casually, how much more pleasant it is to have dealings with the former than with the latter.

From this point of view thought has centered on human, on material experience. Now where does gratitude rank in the spiritual realm of Christian Science? As good a reply as any, if not the best, is to state that without learning to express gratitude the student of Christian Science can make little progress. The importance of being grateful is established for all time by the ministry of Jesus. Being grateful was an important part of his healing work. There are many specific cases of demonstration over so-called matter laws recorded in the four Gospels. We have no details in regard to the other healings that are mentioned only in a general way. In certain of these definitely described instances Jesus expressed thanks to the source of his power, God, before obtaining the visible manifestation of his healing work. Two of these were the feeding of the four thousand and the raising of Lazarus, who had been four days in the tomb. In the latter case Jesus said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." Not until after this expression of gratitude did he say, "Lazarus, come forth." This account is an invaluable key to the healing work in Christian Science. Jesus' gratitude here carries an absolute conviction in the existence and the healing power of good. His realization of Truth was heard, that is, made effective, and he was grateful. He knew this was so because there was no doubt at all in his thought of the reality of ever present spiritual harmony and the unreality of discord.

It is a long step from being a beginner in Christian Science to the perfection of Jesus the Christ—"unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"—but this is no reason for discouragement. One does not become a skilled musician, scientist, or workman without making a small beginning. So it is with the growth of a Christian Scientist. The goal is the perfection of understanding attained by Jesus, and the march to that goal is the process of atonement so clearly explained by Mary Baker Eddy in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she writes (p. 18), "Atonement is the exemplification of man's unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love."

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