Article February 18, 1905 Issue

Simple Lessons

G. I. F.

The sayings of children sometimes bring out in a simple way some of the truths which older people often ponder a good while before grasping. A little fellow of my acquaintance was afraid in the dark, having been excited by the rushing of fire engines to a nearby fire. As his cousin was taking him upstairs to bed, he reached out his hand to take hold of hers, and she asked him why he wanted to do so. He replied that he was afraid there was a fire engine in the house. She thought she would reason out the matter a little, and said, "If there were an engine here, what could I do?" He thought a minute and replied, "I know that you know there is no fire engine in this house." This illustrates the condition of thought in which one goes to another for help in Christian Science. When fear takes possession of thought it may make itself manifest in some form of sickness, and the one affected may be unable to see the unreasonableness of the fear well enough to destroy it. He would, therefore, go to some one for help, some one who knows that there is no reality in the fear or its effect.

Another incident may be of interest as showing the quickness of the child thought to perceive the truth. A little girl was not feeling well, and it was suggested that the practitioner, who had done considerable work for the family at different times, be sent for. The child spoke up and said, "Why do you send for ——, she is not God?" This remark, dropped so innocently, carries with it a deep lesson in regard to individual reliance on the power of God. His promises are for all, and the humblest and seemingly weakest follower of Christ has God close at hand, as well as the most experienced practitioner. This is not given as an argument against asking for help from another, for we are told to bear one another's burdens, and there are times when most of us need aid in working out our problems, but to remind ourselves of the power which really does the healing, and which is always at hand.

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