Happy 100th Birthday Daily Word!

In July we celebrate the 100th birthday of Daily Word. This little magazine, or daily devotional, which so many of you read, began life 1st July 1924, in the US.

​Created by Frank Whitney, who worked in the Silent Unity Prayer Ministry for over 14 years, it was written for Unity students, who were already familiar with Unity and metaphysical principles. Today it reaches a far greater audience, being read in over 100 countries and translated into many languages. It has become a small yet powerful booklet that supports and encourages people all around the world through Unity’s messages of love and wisdom. ​

I recently watched a video about the history of Daily Word, which I highly recommend for anyone who is interested in the history and behind the scenes of this little magazine (link)

I am always fascinated to hear stories of how readers in the UK came to Daily Word, many of which have been printed and shared over the years. There often seems to be a sense of synchronicity: a copy is found at a jumble sale, on the pavement, in a doctor’s waiting room or gifted by a loved one at just the right time.  Today people find out about Daily Word more and more online through Google or social media, but there still seems a sense of it ‘just found me’. 

Many of our readers have been subscribing to Daily Word for decades, with children, parents and grandparents sharing it each day. This is one of the joys for me. 

Here at Unity in the UK we are an affiliate, with a contract that enables us to adapt it to the UK market, including changing the language from US-UK. Something we Brits feels quite strongly about! It is printed in The Isle of Man by printers who have been serving us for over 30 years. What is more, every copy is hand packed, blessed and posted.  As one of our readers once said, “I can feel the love in the envelope when I open my Daily Word.”

I began working at Unity ten years ago this month. Shortly before, I spoke at a Sunday service about my experience with Daily Word and I remember saying: “It is always the right words, I don’t know how it happens but it is always the right words.” Something else I love about Daily Word is the same affirmations are spoken by so many people around the world on the same day. We are bound together so positively through our prayers and intentions.

For an insight into perhaps what the Daily Word means to the next generation enjoy this joyful video from the Youth of Unity Center for Holistic Living, Trinidad and Tobago. Shared with thanks. ​

How do you experience Daily Word? How does it support you? Do you find just the words you need that day, like so many do? As our current Daily Word editor in the US wrote, ‘the messages give her God-bumps.’

We would love to hear your stories and publish them on our website. Comment below or email us. Thank you for being part of our Daily Word community. 

Ruth Humphreys ​
Daily Word UK Editor