Article March 13, 1976 Issue

Forgiving Heals

FLORENCE C. SOUTHWELL

It may seem natural to carry yesterday's problems over into today or to carry hurts and disappointments from years past into the present. But the teachings of Christian Science show that resentment for some injustice or regret over some unfortunate experience is actually unnatural. Such attitudes do not really leave us, however, until our thought is healed spiritually. Divine healing is the only way by which we can be truly free of any remembrance of evil.

Forgiving one who has hurt us or deprived us of something that was rightfully ours does not come about by just wishing to be free or even by willing ourselves to forget and forgive that which is past. The ability to forgive comes from God, and the Lord's Prayer shows us how to utilize the healing power of forgiveness. This way is summed up in a few words: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."^{Matt. 6:12;} Mary Baker Eddy spiritually interprets this petition, "And Love is reflected, in love."^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 17;}

Our obligation is to reflect the Love which is God. Loving another—seeing him as God's child—is true forgiveness. For God does not know evil. His pure love sees only perfection in connection with His child. So reflecting Love, God, must mean seeing another in the pure light of divine Love, seeing God's pure, sinless child. This is the love that heals. This is forgiving that heals resentment or hurt, and it surely must help to heal the one on whom our thought rests. Loving spiritually is true prayer.

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