Article November 20, 1978 Issue

Giving thanks is living thanks

WILLIAM E. MOODY

One autumn, as the Thanksgiving holiday approached, I was thinking about the many blessings God had brought to my family. Much more than the things that had come into our possession during the year, more even than our good health, it was the growing awareness of God's perfect love, His unfailing presence and care that filled my thought. This is what I was most grateful for. I was beginning to see that the evidence of good in our lives is there because God loves us.

Words of thanks, I realized, and even our sincere feelings need to be proved by lives that genuinely, consistently proceed from the standpoint of selfless gratitude and love. Only by living in a way that fulfills the law of Love do we prove that we have a fuller appreciation of what love is. By recognizing the law of Soul we indicate an appreciation of what beauty is. And by sticking to the law of divine Principle we demonstrate what harmony is. God's law requires that we see man as the outcome of Spirit and acknowledge in others what is true of ourselves. This law requires that we see all creation in its spiritual signification and, acting in accord with our higher view, treasure every aspect of the divine nature. A living gratitude starts with and continues from the first great commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Ex. 20:3; Real gratitude praises the one God, Spirit, and accepts no other source for joy, peace of mind, and well-being.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes of the gratitude all Christians feel for Christ Jesus, and she points to following his example and living his teachings as the only convincing testimony of our appreciation. Mrs. Eddy then continues, "Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude, since he has said: 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'" Science and Health, p. 4; It is interesting that after Jesus admonished his disciples to give proof of their love and fidelity by keeping his commandments, he offered these words of encouragement and compassion: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." John 14:16;

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