Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the government, nor of dungeons to ourselves. Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.
Abraham Lincoln, 1860.
Gladstone said, “The promises and purposes of the Creator are not for an age but for the ages, and not for a tribe but for mankind.”
From the March 8, 1900 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
Virginia Harris, C.S.B
23rd Nov 2013
The national day of Thanksgiving in North America (celebrated October 14 in Canada and November 28 in the United States) is, to me, such a profound pause in the business and busyness of daily lives. This special day has the effect of pushing aside the normal routine that seems to govern our lives in order to focus on the gathering of friends and family. And this gathering’s sole purpose is to remember the harvest of blessings from the year – and to be grateful for them.
Imagine the effect of the intention of sincere gratitude being expressed by millions of hearts in one day! I believe this effect can be healing, because whenever the heart is full of remembered blessings, how can there be room for hurt, resentment, anger, bitterness, fear? When those negative feelings are not remembered, well, they simply disappear. Healing is the lasting effect…the healing effect of grace.
For my family the Thanksgiving dinner symbolizes the bountiful goodness that we want to share with each other, our friends, and our community. So, like countless other gatherings of family and friends, we take a moment to offer grace: to thank the Divine for all the good She has bestowed on us – that which we have seen evidence of, as well as that which we haven’t yet seen!
This precious moment of grace is anything but routine for me. It is an atmosphere where my only awareness is of God’s unconditional love – and my natural and overwhelming response can only be gratitude.
In a letter to a metaphysical student of spiritual healing, Mary Baker Eddy explained the importance and healing effect of grace:
“You must feel the Love that never faileth, – that perfect sense of divine power that makes healing no longer power but grace. Then you will have the Love that casts out fear and when fear is gone doubt is gone and your work is done. Why? Because it never was undone.”
A few years later, in a sermon to her church that included a description of the healing success of the students of her Metaphysical College, Eddy summed up the pure basis of all divine healing as “…accomplished by the grace of God, – the effect of God understood.”
No wonder, then, there is so much potential for healing – for you, your family and friends, your world – in these precious moments of grace, whenever they come! We can always expect the healing effect of grace to follow.
Imagine the Thanksgiving grace felt and expanded throughout the year – not just on one day. Now that is truly amazing. (For more inspiration, listen here.)
