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A MOTHER'S PRAYER
Days before my children and young grandchildren were to move to the United States, I began to feel enormous anxiety. I remember meeting a friend on the street, who told me how her two children were living in Europe and how she had moments of desperation being so far from them. Her comment heightened my sadness and filled me with the fear that the same thing would happen to me.
Another day, while I was driving my car, anxious thoughts began to plague me again. I turned on the radio to distract myself. Just at that moment, the announcer commented on the number of Argentine families who were suffering from separation from their loved ones, and she commented on one case that, far from distracting me, only increased my sorrow.
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Days later, and at different times during the day, I began thinking about the words of Jesus to his disciples, as he stood on the Mount of Olives before his crucifixion: "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Matt. 26:38). The Gospel of Luke says, "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed ... And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (22:41, 45, 46). I said to myself, "Here is the message!" Jesus asked that we be watchful and pray that we not fall into the temptation to be sad.
Then I began to reason that happiness is a spiritual quality that comes from God, and that therefore we don't depend on a person or a place to be happy. As citizens of the kingdom of heaven, we can claim happiness as a spiritual inheritance, when we believe we're going through a situation that seems hopeless.
It has been many months now since my family left for the United States. I miss them, but I have gained serenity and peace, and the fear of feeling desperate has left.
The second beatitude Jesus gave us says, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4). A Bible commentary defines blessedness as "an inward fountain of joy in the soul itself, which no outward circumstance can seriously affect" (The One Volume Bible Commentary, p. 639).
I am very grateful for the teachings of Christian Science, which strengthen us at times when we need help.
SARITA ZANNIELLO
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

August 1, 2005 issue
View Issue-
LETTERS
with contributions from JEAN GALLAWAY, JEAN E. JONES, SARAH NELSON, DIANE PIORKOWSKI
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The sum of all comfort
WARREN BOLON. SENIOR WRITER
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
with contributions from Josie Newman, Ron Orozco, Mary Kaye Ritz, Kevin W. McCullough
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THE ANTIDOTE TO ANXIETY
By Channing Walker
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YOU—WORTHY AND FEARLESS
By Shelly Richardson
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ACQUAINTED WITH GOD, AND AT PEACE
By Pamela Cook
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A MOTHER'S PRAYER
SARITA ZANNIELLO
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When the pain gave way TO PROGRESS
By Elizabeth Schartz
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HOW I PRAYED when my town was evacuated
By Ruby Bennet
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DISASTER IS NOT IN GOD'S PLAN
GEORGE KRUSZ
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'A JOY-FILLED WORKPLACE'
KIM SHIPPEY. SENIOR WRITER
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'IT IS INEVITABLE'
JULIE WARD
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DREAM LESSON FROM DANIEL
ANNETTE BRIDGES
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HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS
RICHARD NENNEMAN
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BACK PAIN HEALED THROUGH PRAYER
PHILIPPA CHATTERLEY
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GRATITUDE FOR GOD'S GREAT BLESSINGS
DOROTHY STEVENS
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MOBILITY REGAINED QUICKER THAN EXPECTED
MARIE-AIMEE DUBARRY