Article April 15, 1916 Issue

Love Casting Out Fear

MARY GERTRUDE BERGHELL

In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 110) Mrs. Eddy says, "Beloved children, the world has need of you, — and more as children than as men and women : it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives." The gratitude that a mother feels for Christian Science, none can fathom but those who have experienced the human motherlove and its usual accompaniment, fear.

When my little girl was six years old, she had an uncomfortable experience with a dentist. He left the worst part of the work until the last, and she was afraid to go back to him. I made an appointment, but did not tell her until the day we were to go, when she quietly said she did not want to go to the dentist. Nothing further was said until the time of departure in the afternoon, when I asked her to get ready, and she did so promptly; but we did not mention the matter before we reached the dentist's building, though on the way I did very earnest mental work. As we entered the elevator she gave me a frightened glance, and I said to her, "God will be with you; divine Love will be very close to you, all around you, and you will be very happy." When we went into the office she walked quickly to the dentist's chair with a face that was radiant, seated herself, and took off her hat as if eager to begin. It was a long, hard ordeal for such a little girl, but whenever she had an opportunity to look at me she did so with a face that was full of light. After it was all over I asked her about it, and she said she had been very happy there.

We older children must know that there can come to us no experience so hard, so dark, or so painful but we can meet our Father there, and even in our Gethsemane the angels will come and minister unto us. Like Jacob of old, wrestling until the break of day, we must not let the experience pass until it has blessed us and the dawn appears. Then as we rise we shall hear the words, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

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