Article February 29, 1936 Issue

Voicing Gratitude

JEAN TURBYFILL COURTNEY

Thankfulness is an impulse to express gratitude for benefits received. Students of Christian Science learn humbly and lovingly to thank God for His infinite goodness, thus availing themselves of His spiritual riches, love, wisdom, and dominion. The acknowledgment and acceptance of these spiritual resources as our own prepare us to enjoy their abundant manifestation, and increased gratitude leads to a still clearer vision of the spiritual realities, often bringing instantaneous healings. When we express our thanks for the good we have, our thoughts become more receptive to God's ideas, which enable us to rise above material unrealities. The grateful and loving consciousness is good soil, in which the seed of Truth may germinate and bear fruit to perfection.

When working to realize the spiritual facts applicable to the solving of a human problem, one may become so engrossed in this work that he may neglect to be grateful for past and present blessings. Perhaps he has an ungrateful heart. Is he asking for more, when he is not grateful for that which he already has? To be healed of disease and discord, one must be grateful and must freely express gratitude. Healings in some instances may be deferred because of ingratitude, or of neglect to acknowledge the loving and consecrated help received through Christian Science treatment.

The unemployed may need to see that resentment, discouragement, and ingratitude must be removed from their thinking in order that they may become useful and successful workers. Regardless of circumstances, those who will can always find cause for gratitude. Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, speaks of the need for gratitude thus (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 3): "We plead for unmerited pardon and for a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more."

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