Article December 24, 1904 Issue

A Christmas Offering

ANNIE LOUISE ROBERTSON.

Each Christmas brings to our thought a clearer comprehension of the wondrous glory which surrounded the birth of Jesus. Its matchless beauty has always appealed to all that was highest and best in humanity. Christian Science does not take away from us anything that is good, on the contrary, it broadens, deepens, and enriches our ideas, teaching us to look at all times and seasons, less from the material and more from the spiritual viewpoint. Mrs. Eddy has expressed this in her words, "Your feast days will not be in commemoration but in recognition of His presence" (Sentinel, Vol. I., No. 32); and so in the light of Christian Science, our Christmas feast becomes a joyous recognition of the ever-presence of the Christ, who came and still comes to save us from the burden which ages of wrong thinking and consequent wrong acting have placed upon humanity.

In accordance with our Leader's loving suggestion, our Christmas will be a season of giving to Christ and his church. Not looking out to see who is loving us, but searching our own hearts to see how well we are loving, how much we are doing to aid in the establishment of the church triumphant, looking to divine Love to feed us that we in turn may have enough to give to our less fortunate neighbor; as we strive the more earnestly to satisfy our own "famished affections" (Science and Health, p. 17), to enlarge our individual capacity to express the true manhood and womanhood which is our divine heritage. The beautiful Christmas season will have passed by us in vain if we have not learned to reflect more of the Christ who heals and redeems mankind, and who impels each of us to give up all for the truth.

Each experience deepens our gratitude toward our loved Leader and Teacher for all that she has given and is constantly giving to us, and especially at this season we appreciate the light which her teaching has thrown upon the marvelous appearing of the child Jesus, and its great import to each individual. Mere words may not express much, for gratitude demands worthy deeds of self-sacrifice of ourselves and our possessions, for the church which she has established, and which we all love so dearly, the church which stands for your salvation and mine, and the salvation of the whole world. No sacrifice is too great to offer, for where love is there is no sacrifice. Our highest privilege is to aid in upbuilding Christ's church. No one is so poor that he cannot give richly, for a gift of love is a noble gift indeed.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Cry in the Desert