"...The Heart Grows Rich in Giving"

By Heidy and John Boyman

There is nothing that contributes more to the happiness and harmony of living than a heart that prompts unselfed giving!

It is wise, no matter what one's financial position, to be in command of the planning of one's estate in order to be free from the slavery to so-called market cycles, to the whims of uncontrolled spending, or to the fears that creep in if one does not handle the aggressive thoughts accompanying the notion of retirement and all the opinionated impositions regarding advanced years.

It is also wise to have an up-to-date estate plan that clearly designates one's distinct wishes concerning the distribution of one's assets. Being "up-to-date" is key! In our case, a few years ago it had been a considerable number of years since we'd reviewed our estate plan. During those years, we'd made a major move across the country; we had "downsized" our home; grandchildren had "upsized" our family, and my husband had retired. We promptly sought counsel to revise. The new plan gave us a clear picture of how and where we could make some meaningful, though modest, contributions in several areas we had not previously included. We annually review the plan.

Mrs. Eddy's counsel regarding philanthropy gives added meaning to the line in hymn 360, "the heart grows rich in giving." She writes, "(It) is loving, ameliorative, revolutionary; it wakens lofty desires, new possibilities, achievements, and energies;... it unselfs men and pushes on the ages" (My 287:19).

There are many worthy causes that would greatly benefit from wise and thoughtful estate planning. Giving recognizes the power of doing good—good that has its basis in more than humanitarian acts, as wonderful as these can be. Good that is of God is surely a demonstration of unselfed love—the essence of Christian Science at work!