Article January 3, 1976 Issue

A Helpful Rule

MAXINE LE PELLEY

As the mother of a small child, I learned something helpful. For two or three days I had devoted myself to prayer for the child in order to heal a mild sickness.

I knew that healing needed to take place largely with me, for Mrs. Eddy writes, "If the case is that of a young child or an infant, it needs to be met mainly through the parent's thought, silently or audibly on the aforesaid basis of Christian Science."^{Science and Health, p. 412;} I could see, however, that my prayers were doing little to hold back growing concern. The demand was for thoroughgoing, vitalizing utterances of truth such as Christ Jesus made. Then in searching the Christian Science textbook, I saw something I'd never seen before. It was this: "If students do not readily heal themselves, they should early call an experienced Christian Scientist to aid them. If they are unwilling to do this for themselves, they need only to know that error cannot produce this unnatural reluctance."^{ibid., p. 420;}

I asked myself why I was reluctant to get help. Somewhat to my dismay, I had to admit that perhaps I wanted to give myself a pat on the back as to how much I thought I knew about Christian Science. Was that a pure motive with which to pray? I answered my own question by calling a practitioner at once. The call was cheerfully received, the treatment given, and the next morning the child was perfectly well and happy. Never again, I decided, would I let conceit prevent my turning to another when I needed help.

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