Everyone is familiar with the development of a beautiful rose. The plant when embedded in rich soil, warmed by the sun and watered by the rain, spirings forth with its wonderful colored blossoms, sending forth sweet fragrance. Small and unattractive in its beginning, through nourishment and cultivation it soon develops the beauty which it is expected to express. But the same plant, if placed in a dark cellar, would wither and decay. Deprived of sunshine and rain and rich soil, the rose with its beauty and perfume would soon cease to exist. The blossoms which normally unfold would remain unseen.

Is there not in this example of the flower a valuable lesson for every individual? Suppose the rose could say, I will not accept the freshening of the rain or the warmth of the sun; would not the result be the same as though it had been placed in a dark cellar, away from sun and shower? But, instead, it reaches out for its proper nourishment, turning its leaves toward the light in further preparation for unfoldment.

Mortals who are puzzled with the problem of income, who are struggling with difficulty to make ends meet, will do well to heed the lesson of the rose. Blessings are flowing eternally from God to man. These are not material, but spiritual—love, intelligence, honesty, gratitude, joy, usefulness, and so on, without limit; and these in turn meet our every need. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307) Mrs. Eddy writes: "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and ifyou wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment. What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have."

One who had failed in one business after another applied to a Christian Science practitioner for help. In the course of conversation it was revealed to the latter that the patient, although educationally well equipped, had become mentally, morally, and spiritually bankrupt through wrong thinking. The patient was shown that it was essential for him to express spiritual qualities and to do constructive, instead of destructive thinking; for thoughts of fear, hate, disappointment, and self-depreciation were closing the channels of his income. He was brought to realize that he had an abundance of valuable information which would be very useful to a particular line of industry, and was advised to use this information. He acted upon the recommendation willingly, with the result that a position was secured which produced an income for him greater than he had ever received before, proving once more that it is necessary to give in order to receive. As the flower constantly gives out beauty and fragrance, so one should continually radiate love, gratitude, joy, honesty, and usefulness. There can be no impoverishment, no limitation, no failure, where constructive thoughts are operating; for they themselves are the true income, which enriches mankind. Inasmuch as these attributes are God-bestowed, is it not our privilege, as well as our duty, to turn toward God and receive all that is awaiting us from His limitless treasure-house?

When one gains the understanding of divine supply, he begins to realize that man's ability, capacity, intelligence, success, and opportunities are infinite, boundless, not circumscribed by the testimony of the physical senses. Such a one learns that whatever is possible to divine Mind can be expressed and manifested by him now. He realizes that the true income is available for his use. As he counts his blessings with an understanding heart, his eyes are opened to the continual manifestation of this true source of supply.

One of the world's great needs to-day is an improved understanding of giving. One should hold steadfastly to the thought that he has useful and constructive service to render mankind, instead of demanding from the world a mere livelihood according to selfish ways of thinking. Then success will come through love, gratitude, unselfishness, and honesty, rather than through the importunities of human will. Then, also, will he realize that he has a right to be free, to be happy, and to have an abundance of all good.

It is only material sense that offers evidence of lack of income. When thought is filled with fear, doubt, hate, bitterness, jealousy, greed, is it any wonder that material limitation takes place in mortal thinking and is manifested in experience? These are the robber thoughts; and when they gain access, demonstration is impossible. But when thought is enriched through elevation to those higher planes of unselfishness, goodness, honesty, love, kindness, fairness, and a desire to help and encourage our fellow-men, then is material sense rebuked and repulsed; then does it come to pass that, as Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 596), "Christian Science, contradicting sense, maketh the valley to bud and blossom as the rose."

Is it not supremely natural that when thought turns to God as the rose turns toward the sun, the blessings He imparts will be received in full measure? Can there be, then, a sense of lack or limitation if we recognize God's blessings as the true and only genuine income? It is our divine heritage, this income, and we should have it in abundance. The prophet Malachi graphically sets this promise before us when he says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."