Article November 20, 1948 Issue

HUMILITY ACCOMPANIES GRATITUDE

EDITH MARY SCOTT

Gratitude is not merely thankfulness expressed in words, nor is humility merely a modest, retiring demeanor, Gratitude and humility are conditions of enlightened thought; and they are complementary, for without humility there can be no true gratitude, and without gratitude no real humility.

It is, of course, easy to be grateful for the overcoming of sickness, sin, lack, and discordant human relationships through the ministrations of Christian Science, or for the successful accomplishment of a difficult task; but are we equally grateful for a loving though merited rebuke? This is indeed the supreme test of gratitude, for mortal mind refuses correction and takes refuge in resentment and self-justification. True humility is that receptiveness which, giving all credit to God, says (John 5:30), "I can of mine own self do nothing."

True humility has no connection with the servile, timeserving traits of mortal mind, for it relies on the spiritual sense of God and man. Mary Baker Eddy states (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 209), "Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God." Christ Jesus, who perfectly manifested this spiritual sense of being, stressed the importance both of gratitude and of humility when, after he had healed the ten lepers and but one returned to give thanks, he asked (Luke 17:17), "Where are the nine?"

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