Article September 4, 1948 Issue

ACTIVE GRATITUDE

ESTHER JONES SLOAN

The Psalmist exclaimed (Ps. 107:8), "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" In referring to these wonderful works Mary Baker Eddy tells us in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (Pref., p. xi): "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural."

Since these works are "supremely natural," it should also be natural for men to express spontaneous gratitude for them. Gratitude, or an acknowledgment of God's presence, power, and goodness, should be as natural to men as fragrance to a rose. Jesus was being actively grateful when he thanked God for the healing of Lazarus before Lazarus appeared from the tomb. He declared (John 11:41, 42): "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always."

In many instances in the Bible we find prayer coupled with gratitude, and it is well for us to include gratitude in our prayer. We can give thanks because our prayer does not accept evil as a reality at any time, but rather acknowledges God's spiritual and perfect creation as the only reality.

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