Article July 9, 1932 Issue

The Substitute Sunday School Teacher

DAISY CYNTHIA WOOD

One who is privileged to serve in the capacity of substitute Sunday school teacher needs constantly to abide at the gate "Beautiful," a state of thought meaning, according to one authority, "opportune, ripe, fit." When the teacher's thinking is actively abiding at this gate "Beautiful," it is great joy to lead the thought of the Sunday school pupils through this entrance into the mental temple of Truth, where healing proves God to be ever present and supreme.

The substitute teacher as well as the regular teacher may mentally don a "coat of many colours," such as was symbolized in the coat given to Joseph by his loving father. The encircling garment which is given to each one of us by our loving Father-Mother God is that inspired consciousness which is evidenced in the gifts of joy, responsiveness, approachableness, receptivity, patience, alertness, adaptability, versatility, spontaneity, and true humor. Such awakened mentality quickly detects the needs of the pupils and lovingly opens wellsprings of questions. This produces fearless interchange of thought and the happy sense of journeying on together in momentary and eternal unfoldment. No stereotyped method can be employed successfully by either the substitute or the regular teacher. Inspiration alone, resultant from one's own consecrated study and faithful application of the teachings of Christian Science, can discern the needs and meet them with such wisdom that the pupils' thought may become plastic and self-corrective. The substitute teacher, called upon to serve in different classes, may touch such varying phases of mentality that great opportunities are afforded for healing work for the whole Sunday school.

The substitute, though perhaps not serving regularly, may ever pray for that insight which discovers the needs of the pupils in the class to which he or she may be assigned, and discerns how to encourage such promise and bring it into expression. He needs to pray for humility and divine guidance in encouraging and amplifying the good work already accomplished in the class, so bringing forth still more abundantly the fruits of healing. All Sunday school teachers should joyously realize the truth in Isaiah's words, "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

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Keeping the Door Shut
July 9, 1932
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