The Love that heals loneliness

MAIKE BYRD, CHILDREN'S EDITOR

The 18th-century Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith, a keen observer of people's sentiments, once remarked that "the chief part of human happiness arises from the consciousness of being beloved." As this week's Sentinel shows, love is a powerful presence. God is Love—all-encompassing, infinite, divine Love. And becoming conscious of God's great love for each one of us has brought freedom to many from feelings of unhappiness and loneliness.

Take Dora Henry. As a nanogenarian, living in a sheltered care facility, she's actively embracing the consciousness of being loved, which she finds in communion with God. For her, to be alone is not to be lonesome, but "to have the time to talk with God." This has not only blessed her with peace and joy, but has also given her the ability to bless others. It was Dora's love and her desire to help people in their struggle with loneliness that impelled her to share her life-lessons with the Sentinel.

That's just what Love does. It activates us to move our thought out of being alone with ourselves to being at one with God—with a Love that we in turn express through caring for our neighbors.

Just before Jesus went out into the world to preach his Christ-message of healing, his heavenly Father gave him this assurance: "You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased" (see Mark 1:11). It's interesting to note that Jesus did not start his public ministry until after he received this confirmation that he was the beloved of God, from whom he could never be separated.

We are all God's beloved, as Jesus went on to show through his healing and teaching. Joy and purpose come to us through this awareness of God's tender love, which leads us from the loneliness of self to the companionship of the Christ.

WHAT I SAY UNTO YOU I SAY UNTO ALL, WATCH.
—JESUS

The Christian Science Sentinel was founded in 1898 by Mary Baker Eddy, and its mission remains the same: "to hold guard over Truth, Life, and Love." The Sentinel continues to report on the unlimited ways that the healing power and presence of the Christ activates, uplifts, and transforms the lives of everyday people around the world.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

ITEMS OF INTEREST

July 3, 2006

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit