It is not always realized that the words gratitude and grace have the same Latin root. One of the dictionary definitions for "grace" is in part "a free gift of God to man." This has meant much to the author, because it illuminates the many references in the Bible to "the grace of God." What is this free gift, and how has it come to us?
Grace, a free gift from God, came through Christ Jesus. It is the message to mankind of salvation from sin, sickness, and death. Mary Baker Eddy says (Message to The Mother Church for 1901, p. 10), "Theoretically and practically man's salvation comes through 'the riches of His grace' in Christ Jesus." Jesus came to a world ignorant of the truth—a world which believed in matter, in many minds, and in a humanity composed of both good and evil characteristics. He taught and lived the truth of existence based on the understanding of perfect God as Spirit, and of man as His perfect spiritual reflection. Our Master proved everything he taught and left to us this rich legacy of the truth of being.
What a gift this is, and what cause for gratitude, because when the truth of the present perfection of God as Spirit and of man as His spiritual idea is understood, even in small measure, the mortal concept begins to disappear, and with it disappear the ills of the flesh. Putting the things of Spirit first places gratitude on the high plane to which it belongs. Gratitude for the truth of Spirit's allness, which Jesus brought to earth, should take first place in our thoughts and actions. If, on the other hand, we express gratitude mainly for material sense testimony and things, we are looking at the false concept of existence. Do we not more often hear gratitude expressed merely for material objects and benefits than for spiritual fruitage?
