Article January 15, 1955 Issue

GROWTH IN GRACE

MARION POWELL GOODNER

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 4), "What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds." Christian Science teaches that growth in grace is increasing willingness to serve God, and to have a more friendly and kindly demeanor in dealing with one's fellow men.

Could one fail to grow in grace if he were truly expressing patience, meekness, and love, and following through with good deeds? In pondering this question, one might well ask what manner of patience, meekness, and love is required to fulfill this demand? This demand may be fulfilled through the expression of the patience that is willing to wait for good to unfold in the thought of our loved ones, instead of attempting to force them to accept our unfoldment.

We also require meekness to recognize that spiritual unfoldment is taking place universally, even when it is still not evident to another's thought. And our need is also for the love that beholds the real man's perfection right where material sense seems to report the opposite. The good deeds which result from such purified thought will meet the human need where the one who is experiencing the need can readily understand it.

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