Article May 7, 1977 Issue

The Beauty of Giving

MARGARET G. ROBINSON

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8; In this charge to his disciples Jesus set forth his conception of true benevolence. It included no money, no material thing—just the administering to others of the healing power of Truth and Love.

This healing power is ours to reflect, for we are God's spiritual ideas and we reflect all His qualities, all His capacities. So in expressing love, tenderness, kindness, benevolence, we are passing along what we have already received from our Father-Mother God and are awakening others to those same qualities in themselves. To behold one's fellow as God's perfect idea, pure and flawless, is to give him the gift priceless—the spiritual gift of healing that Jesus gave.

In human experience it is often necessary and right to give material gifts; but too often the price tag is the measuring stick of value. As a child I was taught by my mother that a gift made by oneself was better than something bought in a store. It was not until years later, after I had become a Christian Scientist, that the real reason for this kind of giving became clear to me. I realized then that the spiritual qualities involved, the intelligence, the care, the patience, the love—qualities emanating from the divine Mind—were the real substance of the gift. I finally came to the conclusion that the best gift is the one that best represents the giver's spiritual qualities and is impelled by divine Love.

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