Article December 13, 1952 Issue

THE UTILIZATION OF LOVE

LURA SPANGLER ECKMAN

"Prayer is the utilization of the love wherewith He loves us," writes Mary Baker Eddy in "No and Yes" (p. 39). She continues: "Prayer begets an awakened desire to be and do good. It makes new and scientific discoveries of God, of His goodness and power." This was proved true in the experience of the writer a short time ago.

For several weeks she had been suffering from a very troublesome back. She found it difficult to walk or carry so much as a book up the stairs. At the same time she was mentally distressed by being separated from her children by many thousands of miles and feeling that she and they were out of place.

One day, after a period of unusual mental and physical anguish, she decided that she had listened to and accepted as true the harassment of separation and misplacement quite long enough. Then and there she determined to stand firmly for the truth of being, not only for herself but for all mankind. She turned to God, divine Love, in prayer. She was awakened to the warmth of divine Love and to the recognition of the infinite goodness that was hers to utilize as a child of God. Gratitude filled her consciousness for all the outward expressions of love to her. She thought of many loving friendships and the enrichment they had brought, of a devoted family, and of a love patterned on the divine, full of tenderness, joy, understanding, interest, faithfulness, wisdom, and security. It was evident that the love she knew was the manifestation of that infinite, universal Love, ever present and omnipotent, which fills all space and heals all the wounds of a troubled and heartsick world.

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