Gratitude may be defined as the quality of thankfulness springing spontaneously from the heart for benefits received. It is the joyous recognition of God's goodness made manifest in our lives. Even the whispered breath of gratitude brings us into the very presence of divine Love, into oneness with the Father. For centuries the Psalms have enriched and uplifted the thoughts of mankind with their outpourings of gratitude and praise to God for His loving-kindness and tender mercies. We, like the Psalmist, may learn to express our praise and thanksgiving at all times. It was the earnest desire of our revered Leader that her followers should learn to bring out the spirit of gratitude in their daily lives, as may be seen from her words in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 3): "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more."
In the seventeenth chapter of Luke's Gospel is recorded an incident which shows the contrast between active gratitude and thoughtless ingratitude. When the Master came to a certain village in Samaria, he beheld ten men who were lepers, standing afar off, calling to him to have mercy upon them. Jesus, through his compassionate love, told them to go and show themselves to the priests, according to the custom of the law. "And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed." But one of them, a Samaritan, realized that he had received something more than a physical healing. He had caught a glimpse of the Christ, for he turned back, and threw himself down at the Master's feet with his face to the ground, thanking him and glorifying God. Then Jesus asked, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" The blessing of the Christ-healing had been bestowed upon all alike. But only the one made an effort to express the spirit of gratitude.
Students of Christian Science have often proved the importance of gratitude in rendering thought receptive to the guidance of the divine Mind in business affairs. This was the experience of a young couple who, discouraged and perplexed, decided to call upon a Christian Science practitioner and talk with her about limitation. After listening a few moments she turned their thoughts to the contemplation of abundance, of God's unlimited bounty of loving provision for His children. The mortal belief of helplessness was to be laid aside for confidence, and entire dependence upon the Father, whose wisdom and love would provide all necessary right ideas and divine guidance to meet every need. For a period of time their faith was tested. Gradually, as the quality of their thinking improved, the spirit of gratitude replaced their anxiety, and there was manifested sufficiency instead of limitation. Through this experience they learned to accept present good gratefully, and to understand that Love's supply is unlimited, as indicated in Mrs. Eddy's words (ibid., p. 2), "Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which is pouring forth more than we accept?"
