MEN have accorded much praise to hearts which are truly thankful. Even though one might himself fail in thankfulness, he has nevertheless looked with some measure of approbation on its appearance in another. So universal has been the appreciation of this virtue that there are probably few civilized lips which have not spoken the simple words, "I thank you." Such courtesy is spontaneous with most people, even though it may proceed only from the tongue, not from the heart. Indeed, so much has mankind commended thankfulness that a lack of it has come to be considered as most deplorable and as rendering one quite graceless.
This desirable quality has been sung in poem and told in story as long as men have tried to proclaim to their fellows the advantage of righteousness. From Paul's earnest and concise, "Be ye thankful," to the most profuse exhortation on the subject, we find thankfulness presented with the hope that men will awaken to an understanding of its beauty as well as of its real value. Even selfishness would cause men to express thanksgiving for good received; for does not a thankful heart make a happy countenance? It has long been recognized that hearts which truly entertain thankfulness are quite certain to receive blessing in proportion to such occupancy.
Some one has likened thankfulness to a magnet which will draw to itself all the grains of iron in a pile of sand, where half-closed eyes and clumsy fingers could find few, if any. Even so an unthankful heart, closed to all appreciation of good, could discover no mercies; while thankfulness would sweep through a day, finding in every hour some heavenly blessing.
