Testimony of Healing December 25, 1971 Issue

I held a black baby in my arms for the first time not long ago

Elaine Pamela Collier

I held a black baby in my arms for the first time not long ago. And I learned something about communication, and love, and the healing of resentment.

I was in a San Francisco shoe salon waiting to be served. A young black woman was having difficulty trying on boots while juggling her baby and its bottle. I asked if I might help by holding the baby. She happily turned her over to me, a beautiful child, about eight months old. As she lay very still in my arms, gravely appraising me with her lovely dark eyes, I suddenly saw what the highest human manifestation of love is. I saw what is meant by communication.

I saw then and there that I could have taken this child into my home and heart and cherished her forever. And I saw that if I had not the mortal sense of sight, I would not be able to tell what color she was. I would only know I held there a perfect idea of God, Love. Most of all I saw it's not a generation gap we seem to be experiencing but a love gap. The baby's expression changed from wary appraisal to that of complete trust, and she began to pull away vigorously on her bottle. This unforgettable incident brought healing to me.

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