Library of Christ Mind Teachings
ACIM Original Edition
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Healing is always certain. It is impossible to let illusions be brought
to truth and keep the illusions. Truth demonstrates illusions have no
value. The teacher of God has seen the correction of his errors in the
mind of the patient, recognizing it for what it is. Having accepted the
Atonement for himself, he has also accepted it for the patient. Yet what
if the patient uses sickness as a way of life, believing healing is the
way to death? When this is so, a sudden healing might precipitate
intense depression, and a sense of loss so deep that the patient might
even try to destroy himself. Having nothing to live for, he may ask for
death. Healing must wait, for his protection.
2 Healing will always stand aside when it would be seen as
threat. The instant it is welcome it is there. Where healing has been
given, it will be received. And what is time before the gifts of God? We
have referred many times in the text to the storehouse of treasures laid
up equally for the giver and the receiver of God’s gifts. Not one is
lost, for they can but increase. No teacher of God should feel
disappointed if he has offered healing and it does not appear to have
been received. It is not up to him to judge when his gift should be
accepted. Let him be certain it has been received and trust that it will
be accepted when it is recognized as a blessing and not a curse.
3 It is not the function of God’s teachers to evaluate the
outcome of their gifts. It is merely their function to give them. Once
they have done that, they have also given the outcome, for that is part
of the gift. No one can give if he is concerned with the result of the
giving. That is a limitation on the giving itself, and neither the giver
nor the receiver would have the gift. Trust is an essential part of
giving; in fact, it is the part that makes sharing possible, the part
that guarantees the giver will not lose but only gain. Who gives a gift
and then remains with it to be sure it is used as the giver deems
appropriate? Such is not giving but imprisoning.
4 It is the relinquishing of all concern about the gift that
makes it truly given. And it is trust that makes true giving possible.
Healing is the change of mind that the Holy Spirit in the patient’s mind
is seeking for him. And it is the Holy Spirit in the mind of the giver
Who gives the gift to Him. How can it be lost ? How can it be
ineffectual? How can it be wasted? God’s treasure house can never be
empty. And if one gift were missing, it would not be full. Yet is its
fullness guaranteed by God. What concern, then, can a teacher of God
have about what becomes of his gifts? Given by God to God, who in this
holy exchange can receive less than everything?