Article August 20, 1910 Issue

DEBTS VS. GIVING

FLORENCE CLERIHEW BOYD.

The spirit of giving which animates the Christian Science church, and which is manifested very largely by its individual members, is a characteristic which stands out quite clearly and attracts many who do not comprehend what is back of it and what produces it. This spirit of giving is also largely responsible for the impression which has gone abroad that all Christian Scientists are rich; yet there are many to whom Christian Science comes in the midst of financial distress, many who long to give but who think they cannot; who have to learn, sometimes through much suffering (always through scientific demonstration), that they can give, and how and why.

Giving is not true giving if it comes only from the pocket. It must be the expression of thought. There must first be consideration and recognition of the recipient. Then comes the motive. What is the reason for the gift? Is it to be seen of men? or from a sense of duty? because others think it right? or is it as an expression of love and gratitude? If the last, the gift does not come from matter, but emanates from Spirit; it carries with it blessing, and the giver loses nothing.

One who was struggling through the clouds of debt and lack, longing to give but thinking she had nothing, once had an experience which helped her into the light. She was still at the point where it seemed necessary to consider every household expenditure, when one day she purchased some pears. As she put them away she counted them, and noted that there were just two for each member of the family for two luncheons. Just then she noticed a caller on the porch whom she knew was fond of fruit, and instinctively she reached for a pear to take to her friend, but put it back with the thought that if she did there would not be enough for next day's luncheon. The next day, when she found that every pear left in the dish had rotted, she realized that the thought, "I have nothing: I cannot give," was a blighting thought, and she resolved never again to shut out the impulse to give. There were many times when she was tempted to believe that the evidence before the material senses was true, that because she had an empty pocketbook she had nothing: but she resolutely turned to the facts of Spirit,—that in reflecting God who is constantly giving, she could give; learned first to give her love and gratitude, thus day by day found it easier to give other things as well.

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