It is my earnest desire to express my gratitude and appreciation...

Eleanor M. Lanham

It is my earnest desire to express my gratitude and appreciation for the testimonies published in the Christian Science Sentinel. As I read many of them, tears of gratitude freely flow, and a sincere desire goes out to God that I, too, may reflect and understand enough of divine Love to heal and help my fellow-men.

We have had many proofs of the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, and with the desire that some may be helped I lovingly relate the following experience. Discord seemed rampant among the children in the neighborhood. For days there seemed cause for resentment, since bigger boys made it most uncomfortable for my little boy, till I found it necessary to keep him by himself until the problem was solved. As we were the only Christian Science students in the neighborhood, they took advantage to twit him about this. We were, of course, striving to meet it all with truth and love.

The child had recently had a beautiful healing of measles and abscess, during which time we felt we had gained much in the understanding of Science, and we were happy over the experience. So I told him this discord was nothing more than error trying to discourage and hinder us. We immediately knew error had no power, and held to this. I read constantly on harmony, but still error would present itself. Finally, one day after much reading the thought came, You have done all you can; leave it with God. So I obediently closed the book, and went about my household duties.

As I was doing my work, the thought came to me: If the boy's human mother and father are with him, the children are afraid to cast stones or say unkind things to him. Then I asked myself, Who are his real Mother and Father? So I saw that his real Parent is God, and ever present with him, not only to protect him from harm but to keep him from harming others. I knew that as the mortal sense of children would recognize his human parents and be afraid to molest him, so would error recognize the presence of his Father-Mother, God, and be afraid, and would depart and not operate through the other children, for their Father-Mother God was with them, and they could only reflect Love.

"Divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object," Mrs. Eddy tells us in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 304), and the manifestation in this particular instance was far more beautiful than we had even hoped for. The result has been so wonderful that several neighbors have remarked on how well all the children play together. And in specific instances we have been able to brighten the lives of the children who formerly seemed to show the greatest dislike to the child.

I am truly grateful for this beautiful demonstration. It is some time since it occurred, and more love is expressed all the time. I am grateful to God for His great love and tender care, to the gentle, patient Jesus, and to our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. My prayer is that I may demonstrate my gratitude.—

(Mrs.) Eleanor M. Lanham, Los Angeles, California.

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