The Lesson

In every thing give thanks …

— Thessalonians 5:18

An attitude of gratitude is most salutary, and bespeaks the realization that we are now in heaven.

— The Science of Mind, page 497

The Lesson

Virginia and Gene had been on vacation. They attended their fiftieth-year high school reunion and had a marvelous time. Many of their former classmates were extremely wealthy and owned mansions, boats, and large cars. As a result, Virginia and Gene were wined and dined royally. However, when they returned home, they began to feel depressed. “Why is it that so many of our classmates are successful and we’re not?” they asked each other, not realizing that success can take other forms than expensive possessions.

The night after they returned home, they hosted a church dinner. The guests arrived early and had so much fun that they stayed till the wee hours of the morning. The next day Virginia called me and said, “Rainbow, I just wanted to thank you for creating that event at our home. I learned a very valuable lesson. I’m a wealthy woman. I possess the most priceless commodity in the world.”

“And what is that?” I asked.

“Loving friends,” she said.

I was reminded of a line form an old song:

“It’s what you do with what you got, and never mind how much you got;

it’s what you do with what you got that pays off in the end.”