In 1621, after their first harvest in the new land, the sturdy. God fearing Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts, appointed a day of thanksgiving to the Giver of all good. At this season of the year, we in the United States approach the recurrence of this happy festival, always designated by proclamation of the President. Our great neighbor, the Dominion of Canada, also has a day set apart for the giving of thanks, although at a different season. Many Christian Science churches in England and in some other countries hold Thanksgiving services at which is read the Lesson-Sermon on "Thanksgiving" from the Christian Science Quarterly.
If these lines are read by one who has never attended a Thanksgiving service in a Christian Science church, let us say to him, Do not miss another! Truly it is not an extravagant statement to affirm that here one finds the real, spontaneous spirit of thanksgiving. Not only do the readings from the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy express joy and uplift, but during the testimony period there is the audible outpouring of gratitude from many joyous hearts. It is not an uncommon sight on Thanksgiving Day in a Christian Science church to see several people arising at the same time to give thanks to "the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
What is more beautiful, more inspiring, than an attitude of true gratitude! Verily are gratitude and grace and graciousness close spiritual kinsmen. Let us invite them more freely to our hearts, our homes, our churches. Make them welcome. Bid them tarry with us. Unhappy mists are dissipated, hopelessness and despair routed, when the shutters of ingratitude are thrown wide open, and the radiance of thanksgiving pours in. What is lovelier, more receptive to Truth, than a grateful heart? What more difficult to reach and heal than the thankless thought? Someone may say: I am not thankless by choice. I should like to be grateful, but how can I be, overwhelmed as I am with failure, or heartache, or tragedy? Gratitude cannot be manufactured, can it? Let us attempt to answer this question by relating the following experience.
