Article January 20, 1940 Issue

"Be glad, give thanks, rejoice"

LESLIE BURN ANDREAE

SURELY the highest gratitude ever expressed was shown by Jesus when, before calling Lazarus from the tomb, where he had lain for four days, the Way-shower "lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always." With such utter conviction did the Master know that Life is God, and that Life, with its individual manifestation, is indestructible, that he was able to thank the Father for a realization of this immortal truth before he actually summoned Lazarus from the sepulcher. This spiritual and sublime sense of gratitude could come only from an enlightened understanding of God as ever-present Spirit, as omnipotent Life, Truth, and Love.

Can we cultivate this true sense of gratitude, which is far above the ordinary thankfulness expressed after some desired blessing is received? Undoubtedly we can! By understanding the ever-presence of Spirit, the unlimited resources of Soul, the infinite abundance of Love, we can truly thank the Father for these facts of real being; and we can be so certain that our needs are already met that all doubt and fear will vanish as we rest in the sure confidence that God's ever-present spiritual ideas are always with us.

In the opening pages of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy gives us some enlightening statements on the subject of gratitude, which prepare thought to imbibe understandingly the many spiritual truths presented in the succeeding pages of this book. True gratitude is indeed prayer, as understood in Christian Science, because it rests on the understanding of God and the recognition of Him as Spirit, Life, Truth, and Love.

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