TALKING IT OVER

[Of Special Interest to Children]

JULIA M. JOHNSTON

Andy and Elizabeth were friends. There were many things that interested them both, such as planting gardens in the spring, hiking in the woods, learning about birds, and of course all kinds of sports. And they both went to the Christian Science Sunday School.

One summer day they were in the yard talking about last winter's tobogganing, or, rather, Andy was talking about it. Elizabeth had never been down the hill where there was fast sliding. Mostly boys did that.

"You see," Andy said, "the hill was pretty steep where we were playing. I was on a toboggan when it hit a rock and glanced off. Somehow my hand was hurt against the rock. Some people standing around said I had broken it."

"Oh, what did you think, Andy, when they said that?" interrupted Elizabeth.

"Well, I went quietly into a tent near the slide to know that God is perfect and that He never made a broken hand. I think I proved something right there, because I went back to the slide and tobogganed the rest of the way down the hill without stopping. It was a hard thing to do, but I did it. At the bottom of the hill, I called home for Mother to come get me."

"Did you need any more help, Andy?"

"Yes, when we got home a practitioner helped me. When my hand was examined, there was only a slight break, and in about two weeks I was all right."

"Then you did prove something in the tent, Andy. I think it was what we read in Sunday School last Sunday from Psalms, where it says that it is God 'who healeth all thy diseases'" (103:3).

Andy was lying on his back in the grass, and he didn't answer Elizabeth. She knew him well enough to keep still and wait till he was ready to say something more.

Finally he looked up at her very intently and said, "Don't you think I should have known the truth before I went down the hill, and then the accident wouldn't have happened?"

That was the way Andy usually talked. Elizabeth just bubbled over with joy about something that Christian Science had done for her, but Andy always wanted to think more deeply about any healing he had had. Perhaps this was the better way, because then you learned more about God as Christian Science explains Him.

Andy was truly learning a big lesson. To be aware of God's ever-protecting presence, before you go out to play, as well as afterward, goes a long way in preventing accidents from happening.

While Elizabeth was still thinking about this, Andy said: "Don't you remember that Mrs. Eddy says of God, 'He has mercy upon us, and guides every event of our careers'? (Unity of Good, pp. 3, 4.) That's what I want to prove next time."

Then Andy went home.

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