Christian Scientists, to whom Truth has revealed the quickest and best way to relieve human suffering, are often unjustly accused of being cold, heartless, and indifferent to the claims of suffering. This charge would never have been made, had humanity learned that talking continually of sin, sickness, and sorrow, is no way to lessen them, but only adds to their seeming intensity and duration. In line with this thought, can be learned a most practical lesson by would be Christians, from the devoted, calm and self-possessed Shunammite mother, who acted upon the firm resolve to speak of her almost overwhelming grief, to the only one,—Elisha,— who was able to help her.
Even to her husband, she is silent regarding their mutual great loss. Ordering the servant to saddle the ass she said, "Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me except I bid thee." No hesitancy, no doctrinal cowardice there. Elisha sees her coming, and sends his servant to meet her; but, not even to one so near the prophet as Gehazi, does she reveal her heart's burden and desire. To him she bravely, almost stoically replied, "It is well." The sequel proved her wisdom in not unburdening her sorrow to any less than the prophet, for Gehazi, though sent at once, in Elisha's stead, to the Shunammite's house, was helpless to restore the child. What a tumult of conflicting emotions must have filled her breast, as she fell at Elisha's feet. Not once did the mother say, "My boy is dead," for emotions of anguish and doubt were hushed in the presence of confidence and trust in the divine arm. While the prophet's strong words, "Take up thy son," uttered as he came from the chamber (to him) of delusion, must have thrilled the mother with joy, yet, we have no record of any words spoken by her in reply. Does not her very silence, at so eventful a time, beautifully illustrate the life and character of this brave, sweet woman; so trustful and still, in the hour of happiness, as well as disaster; so full of deep, intense feeling that all about her felt her blessed influence? Because the Shunammite woman did not recount her sorrows to all she met, was not boisterous in her grief, can we say that she was, in any respect, lacking in true motherly love and feeling? The prophet's wisdom had taught her that true sympathy is expressed more in deeds than words, and to be helpful must ever be practical and in season. Hence, her wise determination not to even whisper her deep grief to the multitude, or to those who could not relieve it; and, above all, to those who could not comprehend the great fact of Being, that death is only a mortal dream which, "comes in darkness, and disappears with the light." (Science and Health).
The Shunammite woman's calm, unfaltering trust, and self-possession expresses such a high degree of harmony, in thought and action, during seasons of intense trial, as to commend itself to the emulation of all true Christians. Even Christian Scientists, who recognize the Principle which impelled or guided the Shunammite are called upon to heed the lesson, and falter not, but "Go forward; slack not thy riding for me except I (the Truth), bid thee."—
