Article July 5, 1924 ISSUE

Borrowed Problems

LOUISE KNIGHT WHEATLEY COOK

In the Christian Science Sentinel under date of November 12, 1904, are these words by Mrs. Eddy: "Good deeds overdone numerically, or bad deeds, are remedied by reading the Manual." To at least one student of Christian Science this statement appeared almost startling. The reading of the Manual for the rectifying of bad deeds was easily understood, but how good deeds could ever be overdone, or in need of correction, was not so obvious.

The word "numerically" means "in point of number." "Good deeds overdone numerically," then, must mean good deeds overdone in point of number; in other words, good deeds done and done and overdone, until perhaps the confused recipient seems almost to lose his power to act by having everything taken out of his hands through another's false sense of responsibility. There seems to be such a thing as doing too much for people, doing too much for the same ones, smothering them with kindness, doing their growing for them, making their demonstrations for them so that they will be saved the effort. It is a well-known fact in nature that if a butterfly is assisted by human hands to emerge from his outgrown cocoon, his wings will be small and weak, and often injured. How often does misguided human love dwarf and stultify the spiritual progress of some dear one by blindly saving him from the very experience which would make him grow!

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Tenderness
July 5, 1924
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit