NOT TWO POWERS

[Of Special Interest to Children]

JEANNE P. OGLESBY

One day Martha went to visit her grandmother, who was a Christian Scientist. They had a wonderful time together because Grandmother knew the joy of walking in the light of God's great love for His children.

As the time to go to bed drew near, Martha, sleepy and happy, asked her grandmother if she might sleep in her room.

But Grandmother said: "No, I'd rather you slept in the attractive little room that I have prepared for you. We shall call it your room."

For a moment Martha, who was not a Christian Scientist, felt lonely and almost frightened. Noticing the shadow on her face, Grandmother assured her that she would not be alone, for God and the light of Christ, Truth, were always with her. Then Grandmother read aloud from the ninety-first Psalm (verses 5 and 6), "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." Farther on in the Psalm she read, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."

Hand in hand, Grandmother and Martha went to the cozy room that was to be Martha's very own. "I am not afraid, Grandmother," she said. "Good night."

Early the next morning Grandmother heard her granddaughter's sweet voice humming softly. Opening the door, she saw Martha propped up in bed, watching a little bird on the window sill. The gay creature chirped a pretty melody, and Martha answered with a loving song all her own.

"Oh, Grandmother, this is such a lovely room, I was not a bit lonely. I knew God was right here with me all the time, just as you said."

Suddenly, however, she threw the covers back and asked her grandmother if she did not know that she should not have let her sleep under the blankets, because wool irritated her and made spots come on her skin.

Smilingly Grandmother said: "Don't you know that there really isn't such a thing as irritation? God never made it. God did not give power to a blanket, and you need not fear it." Holding up her two fingers she continued: "There are not two powers, one good and one bad. There is only one, and that one is God."

"Oh, I love that!" said Martha. Her grandmother then asked her how she had slept. Looking at her arms which were quite clear of any sign of irritation, Martha replied: "Just fine, and there are no spots at all. Isn't that wonderful?"

Her grandmother told her that the good talk they had had about God and the Christ, Truth, had healed her, and that she should know that such an error had never been real.

Later that summer Martha wore a pretty pink wool sweater without any fear or ill effects. One day Grandmother called at Martha's home. The family had recently returned from the mountains, and it was good to see them all.

Martha's mother called, "Honey, go get your new coat; I want your grandmother to see it."

When Martha returned from her room wearing her warm coat, she said: "Grandmother, isn't it pretty? And it is all wool."

Grandmother remembered the statement by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 270), "Only by understanding that there is but one power,—not two powers, matter and Mind,— are scientific and logical conclusions reached."

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"I AM NOT OF THIS WORLD"

September 20, 1958

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