"TESTIMONY in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important," our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says in the Manual of The Mother Church (p. 47). In what way is testimony of this nature important? and to whom? When these questions are correctly answered, and the answers understood, we are ready to profit by the great good which flows from obeying this essential rule of Christianly scientific conduct. Like all divine precepts, this rule is founded in unselfed love and operates through this love. It is necessitated by that heartfelt tenderness which sees and is moved by humanity's need.
The giving of testimony is important to the giver, for it provides a means through which he may express gratitude for the goodness of God as it has been evidenced to him. We grow by this expression. Good that is received into consciousness and permitted to remain dormant seems to evaporate, so far as that consciousness is concerned; but the good that is used in loving helpfulness to others increases. As Paul tersely puts it in one of his messages to the Corinthians, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." Our progress can be interpreted in terms of usefulness. A somewhat crude illustration is that of a sponge used for cleaning window panes. The sponge, when first placed in a pail of water, absorbs the water rapidly to its full capacity. But it would do no good should it continue to remain there. It must be used by being applied to the windows.
Gratitude is acknowledgment of good. It is, then, in reality, one with spiritual understanding, spiritual discernment; for true acknowledgment of good is nothing else than the understanding of God, or good, who is Spirit. Now spiritual understanding is essential to demonstration; consequently, it should be clear that gratitude is a very necessary part of demonstration. The expression of gratitude as a deep-seated appreciation of our spiritual blessings must inevitably lead to a fuller attainment of spiritual blessedness.
