Article July 1, 1911 Issue

A LITTLE EXPERIENCE

LYDIA CUMMINS.

We often hear it said in the testimonies given at our Wednesday evening meetings that Christian Science helps so much in the little things of every-day life; and I think I never realized this more clearly than in searching for a way to overcome a little difficulty which presented itself when I was in a home where there were three girls, each manifesting a strong individuality. One day the fifteen-year-old daughter and myself were reading the Lesson-Sermon, when it suddenly occurred to her that the next younger sister had possibly forgotten that it was her turn to do a daily errand. She called the younger sister kindly, reminding her of the duty, but was answered with very resentful words. Her pleadings were constantly met by refusals, which grew more intense, until, almost in despair, the one by my side said, "I wish mama were here."

I began to wonder if I should try to settle the difficulty, but I had aimed at all times not to interfere with the government of the home, so I decided I must not do so now. With that decision, however, came the thought that I could at least know the truth for them. Then the question quickly presented itself, What is the truth, in this instance, for me to know? Still holding to my thought of non-interference, I saw clearly that hatred, bitterness, selfishness, were no part of God's creation, and I asked myself, If not of God, how could they have any power? At once the statement from Science and Health (p. 475), in answer to the question "What is man?" part of the definition being, "that which has not a single quality underived from Deity," seemed to flood my thought. I then realized that the mental qualities of unkindness and bitterness were no part of God's man (and in reality there is no other), for I knew they were not "derived from Deity." I also knew that God is Love, and that He is All-in-all; that there could be no other source of being, and that Love could not be the source of bitterness or unkindness.

For a few moments I seemed unconscious of my surroundings, until finally I was roused by my companion's starting down the stairs, saying as she left me, "If she won't go, I suppose I must." But she had gone only part of the way when the younger sister called very lovingly, "I'll go! I'll go! Come part of the way with me." As my young friend returned to me she remarked, "I wonder what came over her that she was so willing to go?"

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