Article October 6, 1956 Issue

BILLY CARRIES THE FLAG

[Of Special Interest to Children]

PERLE MARY HOPSON

Billy was a cub scout. To be a scout, one has to obey certain rules. Billy loved to obey these rules and to earn honors. He was also a pupil in the Christian Science Sunday School. Here he learned that, in reality, he was God's child and that God was always taking care of him. His teacher said that Jesus earned honors by obeying God's rules, called the Ten Commandments. Jesus loved to obey God's rules, for he said (John 8: 29), "I do always those things that please him." Boys and girls can please God and earn honors too by obeying the Ten Commandments and living the Beatitudes.

In Sunday School, Billy learned that God always helps us do whatever we need to do. We do not have to do it all alone, the teacher said. Jesus never tried to do anything all by himself. He always trusted God to help him, and he said (John 5:30), "I can of mine own self do nothing." When we depend on God to help us, we can do whatever it is right for us to do. "Whatever it is your duty to do," says Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 385), "you can do without harm to yourself."

One day Billy had to prove that this is true. There was going to be a big parade, and he was chosen to carry the flag. It was a very large flag on a heavy pole, and he was small. He wanted to carry the flag, but at first he did not see how he was going to be able to do it. The heavy pole would have to be fastened in his belt, and he would have to hold it up as he marched to keep the flag from dragging on the ground.

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