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Our common language of love
When love speaks, it doesn't always require words to get the message across.
We met on the street, where he worked as a cobbler. I urgently needed my shoes repaired while I was on a strenuous journey in his land. I couldn't speak his language, nor he mine, but seeing what needed to be done, he quickly put down what he was working on. Someone else offered me a seat on a tiny stool. The work commenced immediately. Both grinned with pleasure as the cobbler performed his service for a stranger. Within minutes the street was filled with onlookers—adults and children alike—all smiling. The transaction took only minutes; not a word was exchanged between us, yet our common language of love bound us together in brotherhood. His helpfulness was mirrored by my gratitude. I still proudly show off his workmanship on my shoes!
I thought of a verse in the Old Testament: "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?" Mal. 2:10. How alive this message became for me as I glimpsed the brotherhood that crosses barriers of race, color, creed, culture, to glorify our one Father-Mother God, who knows each of His children as His spiritual idea, perfect, wholly good, upright, free.
When we are communicating with the language of love, we can indeed expect to be understood. But that scene on the street corner was more than just people getting together and doing good. I felt that the Christ was touching the very depth of our individual consciousness, impelling us to live such God-derived qualities as kindness, consideration, courtesy, gentleness, trustworthiness, and hospitality. These qualities give evidence of the real man we are—spiritually made in God's own image and likeness.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
December 28, 1987 issue
View Issue-
Fulfilling each day's demands
Katherine Jane Hildreth
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No need for self-depreciation and envy
Sharon Slaton Howell
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Our common language of love
Gertrude P. Fogel
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WAKE!
Duane Valentry
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How do we measure our progress?
Ann Kenrick
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One small seed and a great promise
William E. Moody
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I was born after my mother had been introduced to Christian Science
Marian MacLellan
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Some years ago a small growth appeared on the bottom of one...
Cynthia Ruth Love
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Every six months when the Bible Lesson outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly...
Carl H. Parkinson
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In sharing this testimony I hope to encourage others to be steadfast...
Claire Mott White
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Not long after my graduation from college, I was faced with...
Barbara Hand Hill