Article August 18, 1956 Issue

THE MERRY HEART

ELIZABETH BICE LUERSSEN

Is there any quality more spontaneously appreciated than the quality of joy? The warm smile of a friend, the contagious laughter of a child, a cheerful whistle, or a glad song can quickly lighten the atmosphere of thought. We read in Proverbs (17:22), "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

That healing often follows closely on the heels of joy is indicated in numerous testimonies published in the authorized Christian Science periodicals. Singing hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal, for instance, at times when the shadow of sickness, fear, or discouragement has darkened the home has quickly resulted in the banishment of these errors as naturally as turning on an electric light dispels the darkness of a room. Likewise, a Christian Science practitioner's confident response to a summons for help, "What a joyous opportunity for healing!" has often been the beginning of that healing.

Granted, then, that joy is desirable and important to our well-being, how can we go about obtaining it? The Bible makes it very clear. In Psalms we read (16:11), "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." We see, then, that true joy does not depend upon material persons, places, or circumstances, but it is wholly a spiritual quality, gained by our staying in the presence of God, that is, by our expressing the qualities of God, of Love, Truth, Mind, Soul. Mary Baker Eddy states the fact this way in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 337): "For true happiness, man must harmonize with his Principle, divine Love; the Son must be in accord with the Father, in conformity with Christ."

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