At the happy season of giving, of expressing "good will toward men," it is perhaps easier than usual to be consistently joyous. To the Christian Scientist, the Christmas season brings the rich reminder of what Christmas really stands for. Mary Baker Eddy says (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 260), "The basis of Christmas is the rock, Christ Jesus; its fruits are inspiration and spiritual understanding of joy and rejoicing,—not because of tradition, usage, or corporeal pleasures, but because of fundamental and demonstrable truth, because of the heaven within us."

The spiritual understanding of joy and rejoicing, an integral part of our wonderful heritage as the tenderly cared-for children of our Father-Mother God, includes the priceless realization that joy is ours at all times and under all conditions. It is ours in storm and in sunshine, in times of seeming pain, sorrow, and limitation, as well as in periods of more peaceful progress. Christian Scientists are demonstrating increasing joy in their daily experience by turning resolutely away from any discordant sense testimony and holding fast to the truths of harmonious being.

One of the most heartening revelations of Christian Science is that because joy is real, the ever-present gift of divine Love, its supposititious opposite, sorrow, has no power. On this basis sorrow should promptly be forbidden entrance into our thinking, no matter what picture mortal mind may be imaging. We must be watchful too in regard to two particularly insidious forms of negative thinking which would attempt to deprive us of our joy: regret for the past and dread of the future.

Dread of the future is as dangerous an enemy to our joy as regret for the past. "Well, yes," we say, "I am all right today, but ..." That little "but," that dubious, apprehensive glance into a possibly less secure tomorrow, not only sets the pattern for a clouded future but robs us of the joyous certainty of today as well.

The wise Christian Scientist knows that no mortal sense of heaviness, no miasma of discouragement, doubt, loneliness, or futility, can possibly prevail against the continuous, active joy that belongs to God's child. He sees each new day as an opportunity for happy unfoldment and rich, colorful experience. Recalling that our Leader was always vitally interested in the welfare of others, the Christian Scientist desires his attitude and conversation to be helpful and inspiring to others, not drab or listless. He dwells upon the joy and beauty of Soul. Recognizing that he is firmly anchored in the one Mind, he knows that as Mind's reflection his joy cannot be counteracted by the belief of minds many.

Having thus claimed his rightful heritage of joyous unfoldment, the Christian Scientist will be quick to detect and guard against any intrusion of error upon his treasured joy and happiness. Such safeguarding of our joy prepares us for a time when sharp or sudden grief might try to make itself painfully real to us. Bulwarked by our daily steadfastness in affirming the truths of Christian Science, we are not struck down, even temporarily, by any argument of sorrow. We are able instantly to put up firm resistance to an incursion of erroneous beliefs and to see that constant joy and security are possible through the knowledge of God's ever-presence and unremitting care.

No one will deny that consistent joyousness is a blissful state of consciousness. But joy is far more than that, as Paul points out to us (Gal. 5:22, 23): "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Here we note that joy is included in the list of qualities so potent that no so-called material law can prevail against them. Thus joy becomes a powerful weapon of great value.

Why is joy so potent? Undoubtedly because it is obviously impossible for two such opposites as joy and fear to occupy the same mental ground at one time. Should our sense of joy flag, even momentarily, true gratitude will be found an effective replacement. Paul and Silas proved the truth of the power of joy when they were unjustly held within prison walls. So absorbed were they in spiritual joy and thanksgiving that their chains fell away, and not only Paul and Silas, but all around them were freed.

The Christian Scientist's protection is in the knowledge that joy, a quality of God reflected by man, is inherent in the nature of each individual, and joy is therefore not at the mercy of circumstances. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Christian Healing" (p. 10): "If you wish to be happy, argue with yourself on the side of happiness; take the side you wish to carry, and be careful not to talk on both sides, or to argue stronger for sorrow than for joy. You are the attorney for the case, and will win or lose according to your plea."

If, in spite of our earnest efforts, we do not reach heights of joy, if we are not manifesting the serene radiance which should always characterize a Christian Scientist, perhaps we need to lift our motives higher. Are we truly sharing with the world enough of the priceless gift which we ourselves have received—the gift of Christian Science? Are we praying every day that we may be able to see and recognize the opportunities to enrich the lives of others with Christian Science healing? Through our sharing of Science the full richness of eternal joy can be ours, and none can take it from us. Nor can our joy be misconstrued as a lack of compassion, as insufficient sympathy with human woe, or as indifference. It will be valued as the warm, loving desire to share with others our own, often hard-won, realization of God's goodness to all His children at all times and everywhere.

Joy is contagious. Even on a human basis, we speak of one who has a happy chuckle as having a contagious or infectious laugh. How much more blessed and inspiring, then, is the joy which is based on the spiritual understanding gained through Christian Science. Let us guard our joy. Let us tend it, nurture it, and share its blessings to the fullest, for in these confused, sense-indulging and fear-ridden times men have great need of peace and happiness. And it is only the rich blessing which comes through the understanding of Christian Science that brings lasting joy to the world.