Article March 16, 1940 Issue

"Playing the game"

[Written Especially for Young People]

EARL ALBERT RUSSELL

On a Sunday morning, before class began in a Christian Science Sunday School, one of the boys casually announced to the teacher that his team had been defeated the day before in a lively football game. The teacher remarked that he did not appear very crestfallen or disturbed over the defeat, to which he replied: "No, you see they played a better game than we did. They brought out more good qualities than we, so they were entitled to win."

The teacher was pleased, because the class had recently discussed how each could be daily about the Father's business, and it had been clearly understood and agreed that in so far as each one reflected divine qualities he was about that business. The boy in question, an ardent athlete, saw plainly that even in his most active play he could be alert, just, fair, equitable, unselfish, courageous, energetic, strong, persistent for good, swift—all good qualities.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, loved children. Throughout her writings, she made frequent references to them and their needs. She has written (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 240): "Children not mistaught, naturally love God; for they are pure-minded, affectionate, and generally brave. Passions, appetites, pride, selfishness, have slight sway over the fresh, unbiased thought." The teachings of Christian Science bring a blessing to children, even as they do to adults, when they are understandingly obeyed, and no one can learn too early in his experience how to bring out true manliness, his true selfhood.

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