Encouragement

MARGARET HAWHE WRIGHT

To hear of the healing of others, whether slow or fast, is encouraging to one who is seeking help in Christian Science. The writer well remembers how earnestly she listened to and also read the testimonies of those who had had slow healings. When reading of a healing that was accomplished in one treatment a sense of discouragement always presented itself. Error argued that the healing was not for her, although it might be all right for others. Often she would have gone back to material means, but these had failed so many times. Doctors had done their best to heal her of Bright's disease and had failed, but one day after she had come to Christian Science, when reading in the Bible, the words "God is no respecter of persons" seemed to stand out in bold relief, and then and there she saw that the delayed healing was not the fault of Principle but of the human application. Earnest work was then done with a new heart, and as she tried to apply the truth in daily life, little by little she became more loving, forgiving, less critical and selfish, and more charitable. It therefore followed that slowly but surely, during a period of about eight years, the healing was realized.

When a small child the writer remembers taking a trip on an Ohio River boat. Soon after starting, the boat entered the locks; great gates were closed in front and behind, and to the childish, impatient thought we were not making progress; but all the time we were being lifted higher by the accumulating water, and when the time came to go forward the gates were opened and we were carried in safety over a rockbottom, sandy river bed, which otherwise would have impeded our progress. This experience may be likened to the student's own progress in Christian Science. All the time that she was seemingly not making progress she was gaining enough understanding of Truth to carry her later in safety through some very trying experiences.

At a Wednesday evening meeting an incident was related which was helpful,—that of a lady who had been sent to California for her health, and who was told to stay in the sunshine as much as was possible. It was her custom to sit on a certain bench in the park where the sun shone longer than elsewhere. Every day a child of about five years of age played near her, and one day the child said, "You look so sad." She replied, "I am; were you ever homesick?" The child smiled and said, "No, not since we found Science." The lady knew little or nothing about Christian Science, but asked, "How does that make you feel?" The child looked puzzled for a moment and then said, "Have you ever been in a swing going 'way up high, and you were afraid, and your daddy was standing back of you saying, 'Don't be afraid, just hold on tight and I will push you up higher'? That is the way it feels."

This simple story reminded me that it is just so with us. In so far as we hold on to the never failing promises of Truth and realize that our loving heavenly Father is always near us, every demonstration will be made. The promise is: "In due season we shall reap if we faint not." When we are discouraged we may know that we are not grateful and that it is our own way we want and not God's way. We are like the prodigal son; we have gone away from the Father into a far-off country, but the sincere desire to be with the Father opens the way for our return to the home of Love. From the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, we all know that the word lost means that something is separated from its owner, and when one finds a valuable article which has been lost the rejoicing is great. When the coin was found it had lost none of its value, and the sheep was just the same as before. These parables, illumined by Christian Science, have been very helpful in overcoming a sense of self-condemnation, and bringing a clearer realization of the healing power of Love and Truth.

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