Christ Jesus never failed to express true appreciation of his fellow men. In the twenty-first chapter of Luke's Gospel it is related that on one occasion when he was in the temple he observed the people putting their contributions into the treasury. Rich men came and cast in large amounts. Finally a poor widow came and cast in two mites. The Master rightly esteemed her offering. Lovingly recognizing the devotion back of her action, he said, "Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all; for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."
This brings up a serious question. Do we always express true appreciation? Do we rightly esteem and properly value the work of our fellow men in the home, in the community, and in the church? Do we recognize the good that is being done by each one, and give credit where credit is due? Perhaps we find it easy to appreciate our friends, but forget to appreciate those who do not agree with us on some questions; yet this is important to our growth in Christian Science. Lack of appreciation is like the dirt that covers the windowpane and shuts out some of the light. Failure to recognize the good that is being reflected by our fellow beings may keep us from enjoying some blessing that Love is already pouring forth upon us, a blessing which comes to view only as we become more humble and loving.
Mary Baker Eddy emphasizes the necessity of true appreciation when she declares in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 560): "The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man. This goal is never reached while we hate our neighbor or entertain a false estimate of anyone whom God has appointed to voice His Word." And our beloved Leader adds: "To misunderstand Paul, was to be ignorant of the divine idea he taught. Ignorance of the divine idea betrays at once a greater ignorance of the divine Principle of the idea—ignorance of Truth and Love." Here she declares in no uncertain terms that we cannot reach the true understanding of divine Principle, God, while we lack the right appreciation of our brother man and fail to recognize his real individuality and the good which he expresses.
