Editorial November 25, 1933 Issue

Value of Gratitude

W. Stuart Booth

For centuries devout men and women have read and sung the words of the Psalmist: "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. ... Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." Due to false theological teachings, however, it has not been recognized that gratitude to God is the open door through which we may become conscious of the ever-presence of good—may indeed "come before his presence." Obviously all men are searching and striving for good, although their concept of good all too often is perverted and false. The need of mankind, then, is to gain the true concept of good, and to realize the unvarying, never receding presence of good.

To meet this human need Christ Jesus came proclaiming and proving that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He found men believing that good was absent; that evil was present and powerful, manifested as sin, sorrow, and sickness, as discord, disability, and death. The Master knew the truth which makes men free from believing lies; he knew that God, the Father of all that is true, is infinite Truth, eternal Life, ever present good; and he knew that man, made in God's image and likeness, is conscious of and expresses good, harmony, peace, and perfection. This knowledge enabled Christ Jesus to recognize sickness and sin—all evil—as presumptuous falsities, devoid of power and presence. He glorified God in his work of healing the sick, reforming sinners, comforting the sorrowing, feeding the hungry, and overcoming death. His life was one of continuous thanksgiving to God, of unwavering acknowledgment of the omnipotence of good.

Christian Science reveals the divine Principle of Christ Jesus' teachings and works. Indeed in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy presents the Science of Christianity, whereby we may follow the Way-shower in thought, life, and demonstration. Thus Christian Science stresses the value of gratitude to God, the great Giver of all good. On page 372 of the textbook we are told, "In Christian Science, a denial of Truth is fatal, while a just acknowledgment of Truth and of what it has done for us is an effectual help." A denial of Truth constitutes a rejection of good and a consequent acceptance of evil with its undesirable children—the sons of Satan—sin, sickness, and sorrow. On the other hand, gratitude to God and acknowledgment of Love's law reveal man's heritage of health, harmony, and happiness.

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