Article July 20, 1929 Issue

Tenderness

ALFRED MARSHALL VAUGHN

What a wonderful picture of tenderness is presented by Isaiah in the following verse: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young"! It would be difficult to convey with words a more beautiful sense of our Father-Mother's tender care for all His little ones. The prophet had said of the power of God, "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him;" and he immediately followed this thought of God's power and government with the thought of God's tenderness; for He ever rules with love.

The thought of strength must ever be associated with tenderness, for God, divine Love, is the only power; and we can never think of the power of Love without thinking also of the tenderness of Love. This consciousness of the tenderness of God destroys fear; but if we think of the all-power of God without understanding His unchanging love for all His creation, fear may remain. The best way to become conscious of the tenderness of God is to strive to manifest tenderness ourselves, for we understand only what we demonstrate; and for us to comprehend God's tender care, spiritual tenderness must be reflected in our thoughts and acts.

Jesus, the one who was most conscious of God's omnipotence, and who most fully demonstrated this wonderful power, was ever conscious of God's tenderness; and he demonstrated spiritual strength by tenderly dealing with all with whom he came into contact. The Master depicted the tenderness of God in the parable of the prodigal son, which presents the father going to meet the repentant son when he was "a great way off" and tenderly forgiving him; and in the parable of the good Samaritan Jesus brought out the need for each one to reflect the Father's tenderness by lovingly caring for all who need help. Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 518), "The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother's need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another's good."

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