What assurance there is in the realization that the child of God can never be separated from good; that no matter what the material seeming may be, man coexists with God and reflects the abundance of Spirit, the only substance! We must be alert, however, that we do not allow error to tempt us to minimize the good and magnify the error; to minimize the supply and magnify the seeming lack.

It is recorded in the Gospel of John that Andrew, one of the twelve disciples, even after witnessing many proofs of the power of God, as demonstrated by the Master, answered Jesus' inquiry where bread should be secured to feed the five thousand, by saying, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" Andrew saw lack, but Jesus saw abundant supply, for we are told in the same account that "he himself knew what he would do." Through his understanding of the power of God to meet every human need, the vast multitude was fed, and twelve baskets were filled with the fragments that remained after all had eaten. Here was abundant supply.

In studying this beautiful account of the power of God to meet the human need, we find that Jesus refused to accept the material sense of lack as real. That which was evident to the material senses seemed far from adequate to meet the immediate need. However, he utilized that which was at hand, and knew that God would give the increase. We also find that after he had given thanks, Jesus distributed the food to the disciples, and they to the multitude. Here we find gratitude expressed before the manifestation of abundance had been demonstrated. These are important lessons. How often our demonstration of supply is delayed through ingratitude, through magnifying that which seems to be lacking, and minimizing, or failing to acknowledge, the good which is already at hand! On page 3 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes: "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."

So long as our need for the moment is supplied, we do not lack; and if thought is uplifted in gratitude for that moment's supply, we are opening the door to the continuing manifestation of divine care. In Malachi we read, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

May it not be that the tithe which we can bring is our gratitude for the good we have already received? Gratitude plays a very important part in meeting human needs. A true sense of gratitude enlarges receptivity, destroys self-pity, impatience, resentment, and discouragement, all of which tend to limit good and close the door to blessings which are ever waiting for our acceptance. A grateful heart expresses itself in happiness, and enhances the value of that which we have to offer in service, no matter what that service may be.

A student of Christian Science found himself face to face with the realization that his resources were practically exhausted, and that he had just enough left to supply the needs of one day. At first he was overwhelmed with a sense of fear and anxiety. Then there came to his thought the many times when God had protected and cared for him, and he began to count his blessings and to rejoice that he always had been and still was supplied with good; that his needs for the day were cared for, and that his supply of joy, gratitude, and understanding of God had no limitation, and that therein he was indeed rich. He saw clearly that money and supply are not synonymous terms, and that were he to have unlimited material riches and yet lack the understanding of God, he would find himself mentally poverty-stricken. As his thought grasped the truth of the abundance of good, a great sense of peace and well-being filled his consciousness. Before that day closed, he not only had had an opportunity to render a valuable service, but through this opportunity there had come to him the material supply necessary to meet his present needs. From day to day these needs were met, until he again found himself expressing abundance. Needless to say, he was blessed by this experience, for the riches of real substance became more clear to him and brought to him a realization of true security, which is not dependent on material possessions.

In "Miscellaneous Writings" our beloved Leader writes (p. 307): "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment." When we do not recognize the good already at hand, we are not ready to receive more. Thought which is filled with worry and fear is not listening for God's guidance, and, therefore, many opportunities for blessings pass unnoticed. A grateful heart is acknowledging good, expecting good, and accepting good, and is therefore constantly supplied with good.

Our need, then, is to serve God with trustful, grateful hearts; to forget self, and thus be ready to serve and bless others; to listen for and use God's spiritual ideas, and, through gratitude for the good already received, open our thought so that it will be receptive to the good which God has prepared, and which is ours now. In the beautiful words of a hymn,

As we open our thought to God in gratitude, we bring into our experience the realization of the abundant good which is the heritage of and ever available to the child of God.

Copyright, 1939, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.