A cup of cold water
But I awoke in the early hours of the next morning with the question on my mind: Won’t you give a cup of water in Christ’s name? Mary Baker Eddy implores us to do this on page 570 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. I knew instantly that I should go to the service and be a spiritual support there. So the next morning, I called the minister back and accepted her invitation.
At the service, I led the congregation in singing a few songs, and then the minister asked me if I would like to say a few words about my friend. I was a chaplain in my former church and regularly made calls to members of the congregation to pray with them. The friend who had passed on was one of those on my call list, and I had regularly prayed with her for a year or so. During this time, I often spoke to her of God’s love and of her natural perfection as His beloved child—ideas that I later understood more fully when I began reading Science and Health.
I knew instantly that I should go to the service and be a spiritual support there.
When I rose to speak at the service, I shared some of the ideas I had learned from studying Christian Science. I spoke of how God held my friend eternally in His love and care. Her family members, all Baptists, were sitting down in the front row of the church, and I could see in their faces the impact of hearing of God’s love. As I have seen often since, the acknowledgement of God’s love has a wonderful healing effect on people, no matter their faith or religious practice.
At the reception after the service, several people came up to me and asked me to pray for them. Rather than vaguely saying I would, I asked each one, “Would you like to pray right now?” We held hands and bowed our heads together. I reassured each one of God’s love for them and His promise of healing and salvation, and I spoke the truths I’ve learned through Christian Science. I also shared Mrs. Eddy’s inspired presentation of the 23rd Psalm with each of them individually (see page 578 of Science and Health).
That night as I gave thanks to God, I was so grateful that I had been able to share “a cup of cold water in Christ’s name.” The very next day, the idea for a wonderful song came to me. I wrote it down, and I love to sing it each time I give this testimony. The last two verses go like this:
Can you keep your thought on God
when troubles come?
Having faith for others when they’re
finding none?
And see Love divine is guiding on their way?
Can you give a cup of water in Christ’s name?
Can you add some understanding to their faith?
In the midst of all confusion can you pray?
Can you see that God’s perfection is their way?
Can you give a cup of water in Christ’s name?
Since that day, I have never hesitated to share Christian Science with others. When I talk with friends and co-workers about what we did over the weekend, I always mention attending church, and I share my own challenges and healings with them. As a result, I frequently get e-mails or calls from friends asking me to pray for them, and I’m happy to do so, as well as to share inspiring passages from the Bible and Science and Health.
I’m always so glad when God invites me to share a cup of water in His name! As the Bible says, “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6).
