Article November 14, 1988 Issue

A fresh look at gratitude

The Christian Science Monitor

A Story some time ago in The New York Times carried the heading "In Japan, Gratitude to Others Is Stressed in Psychotherapy."^{The New York Times, June 3, 1986 .} It reported that patients suffering from aimlessness and living on the margins of life are benefiting from the healing impact of gratitude. Dr. David Reynolds is quoted as saying, "Many people who have gone through years of therapy still are a mess, although they may now know why." Elsewhere in the article he's quoted as saying, "And gratitude is a good antidote to the I-hate-my-parents attitude some people get from therapy." It's good to see the importance of gratitude being recognized, even though, as the article reports, many people view the approach as "bizarre."

Clearly, there are differences between the gratitude advocated by Dr. Reynolds and St. Paul's counsel "In every thing give thanks."^{I Thess. 5:18.} Still, many Christians may smile because gratitude to them is not a bizarre aspect of an emerging therapy but a part of the basic two-thousand-year-old practice of followers of Christ Jesus. Such gratitude includes—but also goes far beyond—an appreciation for parents, teachers, friends, useful objects. Gratitude really goes straight to God as the very source of all good.

To recognize God is to recognize the source of all genuine health and provision. To understand God is to understand health and provision as always present and available. He is the great giver and imparts to His children His own nature, which is always good. Whatever the need is, we can look to God in His wisdom to care for it. Mrs. Eddy writes: "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307.}