"It's black outside!"

"Of course. The sun hasn't come up yet," Laurie told her brother.

"Why did we get up before the sun got up?" Scott wanted to know.

"Because it's Thanksgiving, and we're going to see Grandpa and Grandma," Laurie told him. They both knew it took a long, long time to get to their grandparents' home.

Laurie went on to explain that they had got up early so they could be there in time for the whole family to go to church together.

Scott thought it must be Sunday if they were going to church. They always went to the Christian Science Sunday School on Sunday, and Mom and Dad went to church.

Laurie said that it was Thursday, but because it was also Thanksgiving Day, there would be a church service where people would tell how thankful they were. She remembered going to church on Thanksgiving the year before.

"We won't be thankful if we don't get going!" Dad told them. He was on his way out the door with a suitcase in each hand. Scott, Laurie, Mom, and Dad all climbed into the car.

As they started out, a few snowflakes danced in front of the headlights.

When they got to a corner where they usually turned, Mom suggested they go straight ahead. She thought they could cut across to the highway and save time.

They had never gone that way before, but thinking it was a shortcut, Dad followed Mom's suggestion. By this time it was snowing hard. Dad wasn't sure which turns to take, though, and finally he said, "Didn't we pass that farmhouse before?" Mother agreed it looked familiar. They realized they must have gone around in a circle.

Right away, they reached out to God, as they always did when something went wrong. They prayed for direction. Laurie thought of a Golden Text from the Bible Lesson. ^{Found in the Christian Science Quarterly;} She had memorized it in Sunday School: "As for God, his way is perfect." ^{Ps. 18:30;} In God's perfect way, she knew, there can be no wrong turns.

Wondering why they had gone the wrong way, Mother saw that she had been impatient in suggesting a shortcut. She had been fearful they would not get to the grandparents' home in time for church.

They all knew God is Love. When our thoughts are full of love, there is no room for fear. Fear had made them go around in a circle. But now fear was gone. They were all calm. They were ready to let Love lead them.

After all, Mom and Dad had had right motives in planning the trip. They wanted to be with Dad's parents, the children's grandparents, whom they all loved very much. They wanted to go to church to hear the helpful truths given in the service. Mom and Dad wanted to give thanks, telling of ways God had blessed them all year.

Since their aims were loving and pure, nothing could keep them from giving and receiving good. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Working and praying with true motives, your Father will open the way." ^{Science and Health, p. 326;}

Listening carefully now for God's guidance, Dad drove on until he recognized a "T" in the road. "We turned to the left here before," he said. "This time we'll go to the right."

A short distance further they came to the main highway. Laurie and Scott shouted for joy. Each one said, "Thank you, God." The so called shortcut had been much longer than the regular route. They were very grateful to be on the right road at last.

It had stopped snowing. The sky in the east was turning pink. Laurie began to sing, "A glorious day is dawning," Christian Science Hymnal, No. 2. and the family joined her. It was a favorite hymn that they often sang on the way to church.

A few hours later they pulled up in front of the grandparents' home. The children dashed into the house, where they were greeted by warm hugs. From the kitchen came the delicious smell of roasting turkey.

They all went to church. There was plenty of time before the Thanksgiving service began.

"I'm thankful we're here," said Laurie. Scott shouted, "I am, too."