Article February 23, 1924 Issue

The Beauty of Gentleness

JAMES E. PATTON

In the saving message which Christ Jesus brought to mankind few things stand out more clearly than his characteristic gentleness. Knowing as he did the infinite power of God, and that this power was manifested through him by his reflection of Love, he understood and demonstrated that all power is of God, not of man. Out of the depths of his concept of Love his gentleness was expressed. As the Son of God he saw that love and gentleness could not be separated, saw that Love is not reflected where gentleness or kindness is absent.

When we look to our Leader's example do we not always find the same gentleness? In no one way was she more Christlike than in this. Many have beheld this grace in her character; and her writings are infolded in that atmosphere. Naturally, then, in her desire to help others to win this beautiful characteristic, she has used the words "gentle," "gently," and "gentleness" many times; while synonymous words, such as "tender," "loving," "kind," appear almost without number. For example, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 514) we find this expression: "Tenderness accompanies all the might imparted by Spirit." As Spirit is God, omnipotence, and as Spirit is also omnipresent Love, then might is manifest through man when man reflects divine Love in tender love. How true, how evident this is! Again, Mrs. Eddy's deep insight into Truth, and the consequent potency of her thought are well illustrated in her poem which begins, "O gentle presence, peace and joy and power" (Poems, p. 4), words of tenderness which have comforted, healed, and are continuing to heal many.

Those of us who are trying to be Christian Scientists well remember the beneficent influence which stole into our lives as we began to grasp the truth Mrs. Eddy has revealed to us. A noticeable change became apparent in our mental attitude; there was reflected by us more love, thoughtfulness, gentleness,—all signs of Immanuel, "God with us;" signs too of the worth of Mrs. Eddy's gift of Christian Science to the world.

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