Article September 1, 1945 Issue

"A little child shall lead them"

JOSEPHINE REA AMMONS

The genuine faith and confidence in good expressed by young children bring a refreshing note of joy and good cheer into many an adult's world. Fear of loss or failure does not enter into most children's thought to mar their trust in good. Unaware of their own growth, of the hope and courage which their frankness and simplicity give to the discouraged, on they go carrying the artless banner of innocence into their childhood activities of study and play. In the following concise words in our textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 236), Mary Baker Eddy epitomizes her appreciation of young people: "While age is halting between two opinions or battling with false beliefs, youth makes easy and rapid strides towards Truth."

These "rapid strides" in learning made by children are often evident to teachers in a Christian Science Sunday School. Into a class one Sunday morning there came a lovely bright-eyed child. The teacher and her pupils were all impressed with the joy and simplicity of her character. During the lesson the child asked many questions, was very receptive, and showed keen perception. In comparison with the other children in the class she was very mature for her ten years. The unaffected good manners of this plainly dressed child, her sincere effort to understand, and her eagerness to learn of the healing power and redemptive operation of Christian Science were a great example and an inspiration to the other members of the class.

The subject of the Lesson-Sermon for that day was "Love." The new child soon grasped the idea of God as her heavenly Father, as divine Love, capable of healing any wrong condition; and she was taught that man is the image and likeness of God. Then she began to see her own father, of whom she spoke, as the image of God, Love, and recognized that he must be perfect, honest, free, and happy. Faith-inspired, she lingered after the close of the session and asked the teacher many more questions. Books were taken from the loan library to help the child obtain an understanding of the answers to all her inquiries.

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