Students of Christian Science are acutely aware of the fact that thought governs the body; consequently they know that they must rid themselves of all resentment. They understand that one must purify his consciousness in order to harmonize his human experience and heal his body.

What happens when someone offends us? Nothing, if we don't react to the barb. However, if we do react, we must proceed to heal the situation by separating the offensive word or act from identity. The error or hurt involved is aggressive suggestion, not reality, not power—only suggestion! In his genuine and only identity the individual is a spiritual idea, the image and likeness of God, good, and by the very nature of his source can express only Godlike qualities. Joyfully we come to the conclusion that we can love the individual without reservation.

When these truths are understood, we have destroyed the error, and there is healing. Ever-present divine Love permeates our consciousness, and resentment, hurt feelings, and so forth disappear. What a relief to know that we don't have to love error but only the child of God's creating! This is why Christ Jesus could say in the Sermon on the Mount, "I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." ^{Matt. 5:44;}

Why do we react to an offense in the first place? Our own pride, self-will, and egotism are at fault. If these are present in our consciousness, they must be ruled out. They are the "self" thoughts—self-righteousness, self-pity, self-love, self-justification, and the like—and they are all harmful to our well-being.

It is difficult not to indulge in a little self-justification when we have been unjustly criticized. However, this indulgence prevents our healing the inharmonious relationship, for it is impossible to heal when we entertain a wrong concept of man. Perfect God and perfect man is the absolute mandate of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy states in Science and Health, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence." ^{Science and Health, p. 492.} From this premise alone can we heal. If we admit to ourselves that someone is not expressing good, we are believing there is another power, which has created an imperfect man. The material universe and mortal man are the counterfeits of the real, spiritual creation, and we must strive consistently to exchange the finite concept for the spiritual fact.

A student of Christian Science had reacted strongly to unjust criticism from a relative over a period of many years. As she had been taught to do, she had tried to see this person as a child of God; but she kept reacting to each new situation that arose, even relating the incidents to a friend. Her listener reassured her that she was justified in being hurt and indignant and temporarily soothed the student's ruffled feathers. When a wider breach in the relationship seemed imminent, the student realized that the situation needed to be healed permanently and that the healing must take place in her own consciousness.

She reasoned that divine Love was the creator of man and the universe and that she could not be separated from this all-encompassing Love. The unjust criticism she had been reacting to so strongly was totally unreal. Right where the unloving thoughts seemed to be, only loving thoughts could possibly be expressed. It wasn't one mortal mind reacting on another but two individual ideas of Love expressing complete harmony.

The student could now see the child of God's creating. The resentful thoughts faded out of her consciousness, and she found her peace. These truths had a far-reaching effect. Three days later and twelve hundred miles from home a series of circumstances uncovered and healed a misunderstanding the Christian Scientist had long since forgotten.

Punishing ourselves for another's offense is certainly less than intelligent. If each of us rules out all resentful thoughts and maintains the right concept of man in consciousness, this unselfed love will permeate experience with increased harmony. Peace will come to all the world when those in it are peaceful—having no enemies.