Article February 17, 1951 Issue

[Three branch church Sunday School teachers share with us in this column some of their experiences in teaching the Commandments and the Beatitudes.]

Variety and Spontaneity

With the younger classes I have found that the first lessons, mentioned in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy (Art. XX, Sect. 3), seem to require constant reviewing; but I have found, too, that there are endless opportunities for variety and spontaneity. Little children love to be assured that obedience to the Commandments brings them blessings. The Beatitudes are particularly applicable in this respect. The Commandments show the pupils what must be done and not done, and the Beatitudes show them the blessedness and happiness that come to one who understands and obeys the Commandments.

The beatitude (Matt. 5:8), "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," has been effective in teaching the little ones to participate in silent prayer and the audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer. I find that children are content to meditate quietly, with eyes closed, when they understand that only God is to occupy their thought during silent prayer and that we cannot touch God with the hands nor see Him with the material eyes, but we can only see God by being "pure in heart." They enjoy repeating the Lord's Prayer when they are reminded that our Father-Mother God gives us our daily bread—an understanding of Him—so that we can prove for ourselves and others that His kingdom is come.

The Bible narratives illustrate the right and wrong in human thought and conduct, and when considered in connection with a commandment or a beatitude they often afford opportunity for a review of the letter and a renewal of the spirit of these lessons. However simply the stories may need to be presented to the little tots, it can be brought out repeatedly that just as God took care of the faithful Bible character He takes care of them and that they, too, can practice faithfully their understanding of Truth as did Moses and Joseph and other Biblical characters whom they love.

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