Editorial November 17, 1945 Issue

The Grace of Gratitude

Margaret Morrison

Does God demand and does man express gratitude? This is one of the questions that seem to agitate the human intellect. In the ultimate of the ascension it may be that what is called gratitude is merged in the complete at-one-ment of God and man, Mind and idea. In that transcendent state of being there will be no need of words in which to clothe ideas, no need of teaching, preaching, or prayer; man will be found as the angels, perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. But to rob the ascending way of gratitude would be like robbing the earth of fragrance and color, bird song and flower, warmth and tenderness, beauty and blossom.

Our Exemplar, Christ Jesus, felt the need of gratitude. How often we are told that he gave thanks, and how often the words were on his lips, "Father, I thank thee;" and with what potency these words were imbued—power to heal the sick, to feed the multitude and raise the dead; power to walk in the way of resurrection and ascension. Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, felt the need of gratitude and its healing grace, and has given much space to its consideration in her writings. Gratitude means recognition. Jesus' words, "I thank thee," meant recognition of good: recognition becomes acceptance, and acceptance reflection, and reflection grace, the grace that dispels evil and heals mankind.

Ingratitude is graceless. It is not generally recognized as an evil in itself, yet Mrs. Eddy lists it with some of the most depraved ills that deceive mankind. An ungrateful life is a barren life, a songless life, a sunless life, a colorless life. Ingratitude seems to dry up the fruitful healing qualities of love, generosity, gladness, and appreciation, and to delay desired healing. In true gratitude the glowing presence of Truth and Love is recognized and its healing power made manifest. An incident in the experience of one student of Christian Science proved this to her great joy and enlightenment. She had spent a day of what seemed a fruitless struggle with a great sense of barrenness—no employment, no supply, no happiness, no good of any kind. The day and evening thus spent ended in what seemed an abysmal sense of fatigue. There seemed not even strength enough to prepare for the night. As she sat in this dreary state she was renewed in spirit by an arresting experience. The thought came as distinctly as words: "This is ingratitude." And instantly the weariness dropped from her as might a heavy garment, and she was free—free to continue joyously the ascending way with gratitude.

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November 17, 1945
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