Article May 13, 1933 Issue

Smiles of Spiritual Gladness

ELSE W. SWINSON

A WOMAN sat alone in a street car, discouraged and unhappy. In every direction her outlook seemed dark. Her husband was ill in a hospital; she had been told by physicians that she must have an operation in five days; her five young children were of necessity to be placed with strangers. While contemplating this dismal future, she looked up and saw a woman smile! Oh, she thought, what has she to make her smile like that? She watched the woman get off the street car, and continued to watch where she was going. She is going to that Christian Science lecture where all these people are going, she said to herself; if it is Christian Science that makes her smile like that, I want it. The next day she went to a Christian Science practitioner; and in a few days she found herself perfectly free, and when examined by the physicians she was pronounced well. Before long her husband was out of the hospital, and her five little children were enrolled in a Christian Science Sunday School.

Three years later she met the woman who had smiled, and asked permission to walk with her. Then she told gratefully of her joyous experience. What healing message was in the smile of the Christian Scientist which brought response to a hungry, despondent heart? It was the radiance of gratitude, the understanding of universal Love, the realization of God's nearness and dearness, His readiness to heal and save.

There seem to be many erroneous conditions to take the smiles from our lips and hearts: human suffering, the illusion of pleasure in sin, thoughtless words or deeds, separation from loved ones—in short, belief in a power apart from God. What a comfort it is to know that these conditions are not true, because God never made them! Does the hardness, cruelty, indifference, or injustice of mortal mind steal from us the light and joy which are our rightful inheritance? Let us look up! God created His children perfect, capable only of expressing goodness, love, gentleness, and kindness, and it is our privilege to reject erroneous suggestions with the firm acknowledgment of God's power. Underneath, above, and all around is the law of universal Love, operating to bless all men, to supply abundantly, to guard and to guide.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Smiles of Spiritual Gladness

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access