Article September 16, 1939 Issue

Gratitude

JOHN L. MOTHERSHEAD

Gratitude is a most necessary part of the consciousness of active Christian Scientists. Gratitude is the open window through which the light of God shines into the receptive heart. It is not an emotional activity, but is founded upon Principle. It is the natural expression of thought which is aware of the presence of good. It is also necessary when one desires good, because of the fact that we express in our surroundings and in our bodies what is in our thought; and if we wish to express good, we must be contemplating good. If we really perceive good, we are grateful for it.

The Scientist does not think that his gratitude will make his Father-Mother God more generous than He would otherwise be. He is not trying to please God as one might try to please someone from whom he desired greater beneficence. He is not being grateful in order that he may please God, for God is not going to change anything because of human gratitude. Gratitude has its effect upon us and keeps our thoughts directed towards God, instead of away from Him. God is always bestowing all good, and there is never any greater good to be obtained than that which He is already giving. All we need is greater discernment. Our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 5), speaks of "God giving all and man having all that God gives."

The human consciousness is like a camera; it pictures that towards which it is pointed. Would a camera pointed at the mountains take a picture of the ocean? If our consciousness is directed towards evil belief, will the picture in our thought be one of good? If one keeps looking at sickness, will health be imaged in his consciousness? No! Then, how important it is to have our thought directed towards good and good only.

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