What I find outstanding about Mary Baker Eddy is her unselfishness. I see it in her writings, in her autobiography, Retrospection and Introspection, and in her life story as written by others. Hers is an unselfishness in the service of God that puts God first in everything. God is Spirit, and Mrs. Eddy proved that wholehearted yielding to Spirit, God, was well-founded, healing, and safe.
The Bible records Joshua’s words, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” The people answered that they would serve God (see Josh. 24:15–18). It is a daily choice. Eddy’s example inspires me to choose each day to serve God, Spirit.
She also unselfishly served God by loving and serving humanity through her writings, her healing work, her teaching, her charity, and her Church. Eddy’s example has helped to rouse me from the mistaken belief that I can love and serve God without loving and serving my fellowman. We are to love God and our neighbor even as Christ Jesus taught. Such unselfishness nudges me to make the right choices in my day—not to be seeking solely for myself, but to seek for the greater good through my healing practice and church work.
