Article July 1, 1922 Issue

As a Little Child

ELIZABETH WARREN MULLER

It is recorded in Matthew's gospel that Jesus, our great Way-shower, once said to his disciples, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." One meaning of this saying of our Master was made very clear to the writer through an experience which has proved so helpful to her that she would like to share it with others.

She was one of a party stopping at a hotel from the roof of which there is such an extended view that a look-off platform has been built. One day when on this platform she was joined by a number of people, among whom were a gentleman and his little daughter, a child of about eight years. The gentleman had the little one on his shoulder; and another member of the party, having previously approached the railing, said, "Oh, don't go near the edge, it scares you out there." In a minute the little one said, "Father, please walk right out to the edge." Her father did so, and the child sat calmly on his shoulder and looked about. Then she remarked, "Father, it doesn't scare me a bit up here." The gentleman made no reply; and in a second more she questioned, "Father, do you know why I am not scared up here?" Her father then asked "Why?" and she replied, "Because I know you will not let me fall;" and like a burst of song came to thought the words of Jesus quoted above.

Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has told us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 291) that "heaven is not a locality, but a divine state of Mind;" and on page 208 she defines the kingdom of heaven as "the reign and rule of universal harmony, which cannot be lost nor remain forever unseen." In order to gain this understanding of harmony, each of us needs constantly to have more of that faith in our Father-Mother God which the average child has in its human parent. Most children never doubt that their human parents will feed them, clothe them, shelter them, and give them loving protection in times of need; and the Bible says, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

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