you, speaking the words without
significance. One may say thank you a thousand times while the heart
remains thankless, ungrateful. Therefore, mere verbal thanksgiving is
without effect. But real thankfulness is a cordial giving of thanks from
the heart. When man in response to the favors of God manifests
susceptibilities of conscience, the heart is happy, the spirit is
exhilarated. These spiritual susceptibilities are ideal thanksgiving.

There is a cordial thanksgiving, too, which expresses itself in the deeds
and actions of man when his heart is filled with gratitude. For example,
God has conferred upon man the gift of guidance, and in thankfulness for
this great gift certain deeds must emanate from him. To express his
gratitude for the favors of God man must show forth praiseworthy actions.
In response to these bestowals he must render good deeds, be
self-sacrificing, loving the servants of God, forfeiting even life for
them, showing kindness to all the creatures. He must be severed from the
world, attracted to the Kingdom of Abha, the face radiant, the tongue
eloquent, the ear attentive, striving day and night to attain the good
pleasure of God. Whatsoever he wishes to do must be in harmony with the
good pleasure of God. He must observe and see what is the will of God and
act accordingly. There can be no doubt that such commendable deeds are
thankfulness for the favors of God.

Consider how grateful anyone becomes when healed from sickness, when
treated kindly by another or when a service is rendered by another, even
though it may be of the least consequence. If we forget such favors, it is
an evidence of ingratitude. Then it will be said a loving-kindness has
been done, but we are thankless, not appreciating this love and favor.
Physically and spiritually we are submerged in the sea of God's favor. He
has provided our foods, drink and other requirements; His favors encompass
us from all directions. The sustenances provided for man are blessings.
Sight, hearing and all his faculties are wonderful gifts. These blessings
are innumerable; no matter how many are mentioned, they are still endless.
Spiritual blessings are likewise endless--spirit, consciousness, thought,
memory, perception, ideation and other endowments. By these He has guided
us, and we enter His Kingdom. He has opened the doors of all good before
our faces. He has vouchsafed eternal glory. He has summoned us to the
Kingdom of heaven. He has enriched u