Article February 27, 1932 Issue

Teaching the Children

EMMA H. SAYLES

The first sentence in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, reads (Pref., p. vii), "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings."

Confidence, trust, faith, humility, purity, joy, love, expectancy of and reliance on good, are the natural heritage of childhood. The child rightly instructed readily leans—depends—on God in full expectancy of His blessings of health and harmony. We may be inclined to think that a child's faith is a blind faith, but as we become closely associated with children in the Christian Science Sunday Schools we soon see something of the meaning of Jesus' words, "Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy asks (p. 179), "What is it that seems a stone between us and the resurrection morning?" And she answers, "It is the belief of mind in matter." Matter being but false belief, the purity and clarity of the true child-thought readily penetrates its seeming veil, beholds divine reality, and becomes conscious of God's presence here and now.

A small boy of four was alone with one who called upon him to help her. The child had been taught in Sunday school the Lord's Prayer with its spiritual interpretation (Science and Health, pp. 16, 17). She was soon relieved, and as she reëntered the room she found the child repeating this prayer. His face was radiant, and he said, "I knew when God did it." Teachers in Christian Science Sunday Schools throughout the world can tell of similar instances of the healing of physical ills and wrong traits of character.

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