Article June 17, 1950 Issue

GRATITUDE

VERONICA VIOLET PARK

In the Manual of The Mother Church Mary Baker Eddy reminds us that "gratitude and love should abide in every heart each day of all the years" (Art. XVII, Sect. 2). A dictionary definition of gratitude is "a sense of appreciation of favors received, ... thankfulness." Surely no people have greater cause for gratitude than Christian Scientists, for Christian Science gives them a demonstrable understanding of God. Christians have always thought of God as Father, but He revealed Himself to Mrs. Eddy as also Mother. Thus the warmth and tenderness, as well as the strength and shelter, of our one real Parent are unfolded to us. Yes, God is our one real Parent! Man has always been, is now, and will always be God's reflection and expression; therefore man is inseparable from God, and our gratitude for this revelation brings ever greater unfoldment of it.

In the seventeenth chapter of Luke we read of Jesus' instantaneous healing of ten lepers. Through his clear understanding of man's perfection and oneness with his Father-Mother God all ten received release from this seemingly dread disease. But it is apparent that the one who "turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God" in acknowledging the source of his healing must have understood the Christ, Truth, better than the nine.

If our daily living appears barren, cheerless, and unsatisfying, it may be because it lacks an abundance of gratitude. It has well been said that gratitude is the open door of healing. Why? Because no suggestion of evil, or fear of it, can find lodgment where there is a joyous acknowledgment of good. And as we open our hearts to this lovely quality, we find it invariably accompanied by joy and peace.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

GRATITUDE

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access