Article August 5, 1950 Issue

GAINING FRIENDS

ALFRED MARSHALL VAUGHN

ONE likes to have friends; but sometimes one does not have true friends because he himself is not a true friend. In other words, he is not acting as a true friend should act, and he is not thinking correctly of those whom he would have as friends. To have friends, selfishness must give place to unselfishness. One should try to give instead of to get, think of what he can do for those whom he would have as friends, and not only of his own selfish interests.

A young man gave a testimony in a Wednesday evening meeting in a Christian Science church. He said he did not seem to have many friends. In thinking about this situation he saw that he had been trying to get instead of give. So, in order to remedy this, he began to pray as he had been taught in the Christian Science Sunday School. He turned to the fact that God is Love and that His universe is the reflection of divine Love. As he thought of this true universe, wherein everything is loving, he found himself desirous of saying and doing things which would help others. Such a desire is prayer, and it brought opportunities to do unselfish and helpful things. Soon he found he had many friends.

This is the Christian Science way of gaining and keeping true friends. On page 17 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy gives, "And Love is reflected in love," as the spiritual interpretation of the line in the Lord's Prayer, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." The way to be loved is to love.

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