A very long time ago David Everett wrote:

One wonders what he would have thought had he been able to know of the countless persons who were to be encouraged by these few simple words. How well does anyone realize the importance of the little things of life? This is worthwhile considering, for the little things make up the texture of life for many individuals. Life's contentment has much to do with how everyday small problems and irritations are handled. Watching our thinking to keep our equilibrium and poise plays an important part in the success of each day's tasks.

How may one obtain the quietness of thought that so smooths out daily irritations that after a while they cannot disturb? Through Christian Science one learns that it is only a counterfeit man, mortal man, that sees trouble. Real, spiritual man has no sense of mortal selfhood or of mortal errors. This spiritual man, our real self, is the man made in the image and likeness of God. It is important to identify oneself as spiritual and know that in reality one lives in God's presence all the time because God fills all space. And only good can be expressed in God's kingdom.

With this understanding the erroneous experiences with which the human being is confronted may be healed and eliminated. These everyday irritations are not really happening in God's kingdom. Hence they are not actually happening anywhere. They are simply the figment of mortal mind, or mortal thinking. By rejecting what mortal mind presents and filling one's consciousness with clear, true, good thoughts concerning oneself and others, one can make erroneous irritations fade away. To where? When a light is turned on in a dark room, where does the darkness go? Even so, all of a sudden—or sometimes after persistent work to realize the truth—there are no hateful, irritated, and fearful thoughts. Both darkness and wrong thinking go to the nothingness from which they came.

Constant small generosities, kindnesses, and graciousness may grow to a large and happy satisfaction, into the tall oak of joy. But through carelessness or ignorance or both, what small importance these little things usually are given! The widow's mite was a little thing, but it was all she had to give; and how greatly Jesus treasured it is shown in his words, "And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."  ^{Mark 12:43, 44;}

Examples of this kind of giving would be the courteous things one does for a friend or stranger even though one may not have the so-called material means to give. Tiny seeds grow into large and beautiful trees. A smile, a gracious word, a loving reply to an angry retort, a kind deed, can grow into something wonderful for the giver and the receiver.

The Word of God is right at hand to assure us that man, the spiritual man of God's creating, reflects goodness, intelligence, and love. Now man has all that the Father has for His child. God has already given His children all that is needed to bless and care for them. All the individual needs to do is to know, believe, and acknowledge himself the beloved child of God and daily act on this. Then all good will be added to his experience.

The child of God needs no wishful thinking. Because he is God's spiritual creation, he includes everything good. Knowing oneself as the child of God, one knows that he cannot and does not have the cruel weapon of a temper to inflict upon family or associates. Every individual through his God-given intelligence expresses the ability to love and put God first and hence to meet daily irritations by refusing to accept them as realities. Thus he learns to express to the world a loving disposition under every circumstance. This is the spirit of the Christ expressed in daily living. Mrs. Eddy admonishes us in her understanding words, "Once more I write, Set your affections on things above; love one another; commune at the table of our Lord in one spirit; worship in spirit and in truth; and if daily adoring, imploring, and living the divine Life, Truth, Love, thou shalt partake of the bread that cometh down from heaven, drink of the cup of salvation, and be baptized in Spirit." ^{Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 14;}

The strength of these words aided the writer in overcoming petty discontent and restlessness at a time when she was unhappy in her work and was unable to get transferred. When a new year began, she made up her mind to claim her birthright as God's own child. She knew that she was not actually living in a material world, working under disagreeable conditions, but in God's kingdom under His protection and guidance.

She reviewed the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the three courageous Hebrews who the book of Daniel tells us escaped from the burning fiery furnace. When they came out of the furnace, the Bible records, "The princes, governors, and captains . . . saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them."  ^{Dan. 3:27.}

The words, "nor the smell of fire had passed on them," helped the writer to know that since she was God's child error could not touch her. She printed the initials of the three names, S. M. A., and left them as a reminder on top of her desk blotter all the year. Many times this reminder lifted her thought above irritability and helped her to see her fellowmen as God's perfect children, not as mortals. Many were the minor errors healed, and she grew into the sense of a year successfully carried out. The climax came when she was transferred to a very pleasant situation without asking for the transfer.

How grateful one may be when the little errors have been overcome through applying the truth! Then one may really know that "tall oaks from little acorns grow." One realizes that those "little acorns"—those quiet denials of error and affirmations of truth— have grown into the tall oak of glowing happiness and satisfaction, demonstration accomplished and harmony attained.