Article July 17, 1926 Issue

Glorifying God

ANITA ST. JOHN KELLY

At the Wednesday evening testimony meetings in all Churches of Christ, Scientist, opportunity is lovingly given those who wish to bear testimony to the healing benefits gained through Christian Science. This privilege is used gratefully and joyously; and it is also a fact that the testimonies are listened to attentively, remembered, and in many cases afterward related by the listeners to some one in need of the message of God's power and love.

The giving of testimonies in the Wednesday evening meetings and the publishing of them in our periodicals are provided for in a By-law in the Manual of The Mother Church (p. 47), wherein our Leader wisely counsels against undue emphasis being placed upon the recital of symptoms of suffering, although she says the name of the disease may be stated. One has only to look backward in his own experience to realize the wisdom of this By-law. When the search for God, through Christian Science, first leads one to a Wednesday evening meeting, there is perhaps in the seeker's home a great need of healing; and he listens eagerly for mention of the healing of some particular form of sickness. When it is mentioned, how much hope and encouragement that testimony brings! As we recall the first feeble steps along the journey from sense to Soul, the comfort received from testimonies heard and read, and the various ways in which we learned of the truth being applied, we realize that it is indeed a blessed privilege to give, in turn, as freely as we have received. We desire to give, from the understanding and experiences with which we have been blessed, those "crumbs of comfort from Christ's table, feeding the hungry and giving living waters to the thirsty," of which Mrs. Eddy speaks on page 234 in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."

When one has been healed through Christian Science of sickness or of any inharmony, and there is a desire to express gratitude for the blessing, there is exemplified the saying of David of old, "All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." Since our experiences of growth and progress are God-bestowed, they belong to God, and are not ours to withhold; for we are but the reflections of the goodness and power of God. The healing benefits and the illumination of understanding express action, because they are of God, who is omniactive. Hence the blessing of our demonstration is not to be limited to our own consciousness, or even to our own family or immediate circle; nor does its operation cease with our demonstration, but expresses eternal activity. The glimpses of Truth gained operate in our lives, making us wiser, more loving, better men and women; indeed, every lesson we learn is but another step out of matter into the realm of the real, which is Spirit. We should, then, be unselfish and willing to share with others the joy of our experiences, knowing that "giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us," as Mrs. Eddy says on page 79 of Science and Health.

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