How fortunate are those young people today who from babyhood have been taught the healing truths of Christian Science! As naturally as the little flower lifts its face to the sun for warmth and life, they have learned to turn trustingly to their Father-Mother in every need. And time after time, when error has threatened, the Love which is "closer than hands and feet" has freed them from suffering, fear, and inharmony of all kinds. They soon find that those who have not the understanding of Christian Science are ignorant of their heritage of dominion over all the so-called powers of earth, and they learn to be humbly grateful for the blessings they enjoy.

One high school student was accustomed to having her problems solved quickly, through either the clear thought of a Christian Science practitioner or that of a member of her own family, and later by her own efforts. At one time, however, when a cold seemed to linger and defy all her efforts to conquer it, she was compelled to look within her own thinking to discover what had seemed to cause it.

On page 411 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, she found these arresting words: "Disease is an image of thought externalized." "Some wrong thinking on my part," this student reasoned, "must be preventing the externalization of good that God's children may rightly expect." With this thought, and like a flash of light, she saw what it was.

She had become friendly with a group of girls in school whose habit it was to gather together during recess, or a free period, and tell jokes. Sometimes these stories were, to say the least, questionable in character, and while she did not enter actively into these conversations, neither did she show in any way her disapproval of them. Later, her conscience stopped objecting, and once she found herself repeating one of these questionable stories. She was surprised to find how much of her thought was occupied with such profitless thinking, for when she tried to obey Mrs. Eddy's admonition on page 261 of Science and Health, "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy ofyour thoughts," she found these erroneous thoughts holding the ground instead. Then much time was spent, conscientious effort made, and many a tear shed, before she was able to rout them from her consciousness.

Then began the task of watching, hour by hour, to see that no wrong thought was admitted. When the testing times came, she would deliberately turn from the wrong thought to a right one. She found that each small victory over error made the next battle easier, and it gave her a wonderful sense of joy and power to realize that she actually did have dominion over her thinking. These words from the Christian Science Hymnal became her guide:

Each morning this student resolved that she would entertain no thought unfit to enter God's temple.

Her first uneasy fears that she might lose some valued friendship by her strict adherence to this high ideal were soon forgotten, for her natural friendliness and spontaneous joy found response in the hearts of all. And a few days later, when one of her friends confided to her that she too had banned these unwholesome stories, she was delighted.

The mental condition which scientific thinking fosters, repays in fullest measure our every effort Spiritward. Students of Christian Science find that not only is their health improved, but progress in schoolwork is made easier, and real and lasting friendships are formed. Often these students find themselves in positions of leadership, where their talents have opportunity for larger good. As a member of a committee to choose the class play, one who had attained such leadership voted for the play on the more wholesome subject, and it was finally chosen. Later this play was praised by many for the reason of its wholesomeness. But whether in a position of authority, or just one of a larger group, the young person who holds his thought close to divine Love, and patterns his deeds also after this highest ideal, will be an influence for good wherever he serves, and will find his days enriched by the love of his fellows.

In speaking of the spiritual understanding which distinguished his disciples from others of their day, our Master said: "Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." What a precious gift we have in our understanding of Christian Science! How we should cherish it, and strive to bar the door of our thoughts to those worldly usurpers that would constantly claim our attention! On page 392 of our textbook, Mary Baker Eddy bids us: "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously." This is our blessed daily task.