Article January 2, 1926 Issue

Good Intentions

MATTIE C. SANDELIN

Nearly every one is familiar with the old dictum, "Hell is paved with good intentions;" but only those who have been through the experience of merely having good intentions, with the consequent remorse that eventually must come from not having carried them out, can appreciate the import of the statement.

The divine impulse to do good comes to every one of us; and we should give earnest heed to this "still small voice" of Love, and act upon its promptings. Mrs. Eddy says in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 12), in her article entitled "Now and Then": "Whatever needs to be done which cannot be done now, God prepares the way for doing; while that which can be done now, but is not, increases our indebtedness to God."

Yet there are many people who spend much of their time dreaming about or planning what they are going to do. They intend to write a letter or send a gift to somebody, fulfill a promise, say a kind word to one in need of it, or study to achieve a worthy goal; but seldom do they put these good intentions into effect. When reminded of their neglect, they return a self-satisfied reply, "Well, my intentions were good anyway."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

The Simplicity of Christian Science