Editorial March 7, 1988 Issue

A diligent search and a clean sweep

Ann Kenrick

Christ Jesus taught universal truths through parables that related to everyday lives. One of my favorite ones is recorded in Luke's Gospel. Jesus asks a question: "What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?"^{Luke 15:8.}

This little story, illustrating the loving thoroughness of God's care for man—and therefore, as I like to see it, the inspired persistence we may learn from Him—reminds me of Mary Baker Eddy's experience. As a young woman she married and went to live in South Carolina, but her husband died shortly after their marriage. She returned north to her parents' home and gave birth to a son a few months afterward. Later she was unable to care for her son because of her poor health and lack of funds. He was taken away and sent out west, and they did not meet again until he was a grown man with his own family.

In a few years Mrs. Eddy had lost much of what was dear, but as a devout Christian she never gave up trust in God. In the agony of these years she turned more completely to Him for solace. We could say, in terms of Jesus' parable, that she lit her candle. Her love of God drew her into the radiance of His love for her.

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A diligent search and a clean sweep

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