Article May 5, 1928 Issue

Happiness

BEATRICE CLAYTON

Not long ago someone within hearing of the writer made use of the expression: "He is a miser, and miserable." The similarity of the words "miser" and "miserable" not having been previously noted, their use in combination made an impression. Again and again they recurred to thought. Finally a dictionary was consulted, and the surprising discovery made that at one time the two words were synonymous; that just as "comfortable" means the state of being in comfort, so "miserable" formerly meant the state of being a miser, or miserly.

Although the use of the word in the sense just noted is now obsolete, its former signification possesses interest for the student of Christian Science; for if we are ever tempted to believe ourselves miserable, and will dispassionately examine the situation in the light of Christian Science teaching, we shall find that it is almost always a direct result of withholding—not the withholding of money necessarily, but more likely of service of some kind, in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, or from mankind in general. Perhaps we are withholding gratitude; perhaps, when the Wednesday evening testimony meeting comes around, we are refusing, week by week, to give the cup of cold water to some thirsty one by narrating our experience of healing. Most likely of all, we may be withholding love from those around us, that love which "thinketh no evil."

Knowing, as we know, that our Father-Mother God is ever mindful of His ideas, let us lay aside the false sense of responsibility and endeavor to make our fellow mortals happy. Kindness is never wasted, and the smallest evidence of it has power to lift heavy something for the happiness of those around us, and the best way to awaken their interest in the priceless treasures of Christian Science is to manifest unselfed love in the small things of everyday life. Wherever the golden beams of this love shine, daily experiences become transformed, and we wonder that we could ever have believed any tiniest detail unimportant. Rather, each commonplace duty seems like the fragment of a wonderful mosaic, having its fitting relation to a perfect whole. And lo, happiness!

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